March 20 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump hosted Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of Japan for dinner at the White House on Thursday night, after the two leaders held talks throughout the day aimed at strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance.
Though not billed as a state dinner, the event in Takaichi's honor was formal. About 70 guests -- including Google CEO Sundar Pichai, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink -- sat around seven tables in the State Dining Room that were decorated with golden table cloths upon which were laid golden cutlery. Before the fireplace was a lectern, decorated with a large golden statue of an eagle with is wings spread.
Japan's foreign ministry described the event in a statement as "a dinner reception."
At 7:20 p.m. EST, Takaichi, dressed in a dark gray suit and a two-string pearl necklace with her left arm ornamented by a white handbag, and Trump, wearing the blue suit and yellow tie he was seen in throughout the day, entered the East Room to a standing ovation.
In his opening remarks, Trump complimented Takaichi, who became Japan's first woman prime minister in October, calling her "a very special person," "an amazing person" and "a great friend and partner."
