Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi will visit the U.S. next week, with plans to meet U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington on Thursday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/09/japan/politics/koizumi-hegseth-washington/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #shinjirokoizumi #petehegseth #us #usjapanrelations #washington #defense