The joint news conference that followed made it clear that being in lock step with Mr. Trump can be a precarious position for any world leader.
After the two men strode to the podium on Monday afternoon, Mr. Abe declared that the friendship and alliance had been further cementedby a day on the golf course, inside the sumo arena and at a robatayaki dinner with their spouses. He said that he and Mr. Trump were “completely on the same page” on issues like trade and North Korea.