epa13336351 (L-R) Economic and Financial Policy Advisor of the German Chancellor Levin Holle, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Japan's Minister for Economic and Fiscal Policy Minoru Kiuchi attend a meeting with business representatives at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, 28 October 2026....

epa13336350 German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attend a meeting with business representatives at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, 28 October 2026. Merz, accompanied by a business delegation, is currently on a trip to Singapore, Japan and South Korea until 30 October. EPA/KIYOSHI OTA / POOL

epa13336349 German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (R) and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) arrive for a meeting with business representatives at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, 28 October 2026. Merz, accompanied by a business delegation, is currently on a trip to Singapore, Japan and South Korea until 30 October. EPA/KIYOSHI...

epa13336346 German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (C) and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) attend a meeting with business representatives at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, 28 October 2026. Merz, accompanied by a business delegation, is currently on a trip to Singapore, Japan and South Korea until 30 October. EPA/KIYOSHI OTA /...

epa13336347 German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (C-L) and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C-R) attend a meeting with business representatives at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, 28 October 2026. Merz, accompanied by a business delegation, is currently on a trip to Singapore, Japan and South Korea until 30 October. EPA/KIYOSHI...

epa13336348 German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (R) and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (L) arrive for a meeting with business representatives at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, 28 October 2026. Merz, accompanied by a business delegation, is currently on a trip to Singapore, Japan and South Korea until 30 October. EPA/KIYOSHI...

epa13336343 German Chancellor Friedrich Merz speaks during a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (not pictured) at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, 28 October 2026. German Chancellor Merz, accompanied by a business delegation, is currently on a trip to Singapore, Japan and South Korea until 30 October. ...

epa13336344 Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (not pictured) at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, 28 October 2026. German Chancellor Merz, accompanied by a business delegation, is currently on a trip to Singapore, Japan and South Korea until 30 October. ...

epa13336345 German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (L) and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attend a meeting with business representatives at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, 28 October 2026. Merz, accompanied by a business delegation, is currently on a trip to Singapore, Japan and South Korea until 30 October. EPA/KIYOSHI OTA / POOL

epa13336340 German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (L) and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) shake hands during a joint press conference at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, 28 October 2026. German Chancellor Merz, accompanied by a business delegation, is currently on a trip to Singapore, Japan and South Korea until 30 October. ...