Japan FM Iwaya to attend Trump inauguration

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya will attend Donald Trump's inauguration as US president on January 20, ensuring that a high-ranking official from a key Asian ally is on hand for the event, two people familiar with the matter said, Report informs via Reuters.

Iwaya was invited by Trump's camp to the launch of his second term and has accepted, the two people said, confirming Japanese media reports.

He will be the first Japanese cabinet member to attend the swearing-in of a US president, the Nikkei newspaper said.

Japan's embassy in Washington and officials with Trump's inauguration team did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Iwaya hopes to arrange a meeting with Senator Marco Rubio, Trump's pick for secretary of state, during his visit to the United States, one of the people familiar with the matter said.

The Japanese minister will convey Tokyo's hope for an early meeting between Trump and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, this person said. Ishiba unsuccessfully sought a meeting in November, shortly after Trump beat Joe Biden in a presidential comeback, sources told Reuters at the time.