Wait and see is the message on ties with Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the first foreign leader to meet with the US president-elect, and Japan's media excitedly seized on anything that could be regarded as a positive signal from the high-profile meeting on Thursday between Abe and incoming US President Donald Trump. Their smiles, and the gifts they presented to each other, were believed to betray there was chemistry between them during their meeting in Trump's penthouse in New York.

Both men kept their lips sealed on what they talked about for 90 minutes, claiming that their talks were unofficial. But Abe, who appeared to be clear of any anxiety about the US president-in-waiting's Japan policy, called Trump "a trustworthy leader", adding he was confident he would be able to build "a relationship of trust" with Trump.

Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, as well as former director of US Defense Intelligence Agency Michael Flynn, were also at the meeting. Trump has offered Flynn the role of national security adviser in his administration.