Japan’s leader heads to D.C. bearing gifts of peace for a president at war

TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s first official visit to Washington this week was supposed to be a triumphant celebration of the friendship, with a gift of 250 Japanese cherry trees to mark America’s big birthday. Instead, she will be greeted by a wartime president who’s looking for a different kind of gift from her country: military assistance in the Middle East.