TOKYO (AP) — Japan is filled with tiny white trucks that farmers and commercial workers use to lug their gear along the narrow roads of a nation smaller than California.
But Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi had another, more substantial truck in mind as she looked to build rapport with visiting U.S. President Donald Trump.
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CORRECTS DATE AND LOCATION - A Ford F-150, center, and two other American-made cars sit parked outside the Akasaka Palace, Japan's guest house for visiting foreign leaders, in Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, as President Donald Trump meets Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. (AP Photo/Mayuko Ono)
Cars, including an American Ford F-150 truck are seen in the courtyard of the Akasaka Palace during President Donald Trump's visit in Japan, in Tokyo, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
In this image made from video, A Ford F-150, center, and two other American-made cars sit parked outside Akasaka Palace, in Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, as President Donald Trump meets Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. (AP Photo/Mayuko Ono)
A Ford F-150, center, and two other American-made cars sit parked outside the Akasaka Palace, Tokyo's guest house for visiting foreign leaders, in Minato, Japan, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, as President Donald Trump meets Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. (AP Photo/Mayuko Ono)
Takaichi, who wants to improve economic ties with Washington and cement a strong relationship with Trump, placed an enormous American Ford F-150 truck, as well as U.S.-made Japanese automobiles, in the courtyard of the Akasaka Palace where the leaders held their first talks Tuesday.
Trump is a fan of the Ford F-150 and has responded positively to reports that the Japanese government is considering buying dozens of the pickups.
He has also complained that there are hardly any American cars in Japan and that the country's vehicle safety standards are too strict.
But the lack of big American automobiles in Japan might be linked to more practical reasons, including local tastes and the conditions and size of roads.
Japan is an island nation, smaller than California, and there is limited parking. Even in big cities, many of the streets where people live are narrow and twisting.
Consumers seem to prefer compact or mini cars that can easily navigate the roads. Those who can afford more expensive foreign cars tend to go for compact or medium-size vehicles from Europe, such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen and Audi.
Except for American-produced Japanese cars such as Honda, Mazda and Nissan, the top-selling American brand is Jeep, according to the Japan Automobile Importers Association.
Many American cars have their steering on the left side, the opposite of the standard right-side steering in Japan, where expressway tolls are on the right side, for instance. Lower mileage and lack of maintenance and service networks also help explain why American brands except for Jeep have struggled in Japan.
“Why don't American cars sell well in Japan? Because they lack understanding for road conditions and housing situations, as well as energy conservation,” former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told parliament in April.
When Trump heard of the Ford truck idea as he flew to Asia on Air Force One, he reacted enthusiastically.
“She has good taste,” Trump told reporters of Takaichi. “That’s a hot truck.”
The underlying context is Takaichi's need to figure out how to navigate the complex trade relationship that Trump shook up earlier this year with tariffs.
Trump wants allies to buy more American goods and also make financial commitments to build factories and energy infrastructure in the United States.
Japan’s previous administration agreed in September to invest $550 billion in the U.S., which led Trump to trim a threatened 25% tariff on Japanese goods to 15%. But Japan wants the investments to favor Japanese vendors and contractors.
In Japan, sport utility vehicles and are becoming popular among people with families and for outdoor activities such as camping, but buyers often go for more stylish, smaller models.
Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler withdrew from the Japanese market because of slumping sales, Ford in 2016 and Chrysler in 2017.
CORRECTS DATE AND LOCATION - A Ford F-150, center, and two other American-made cars sit parked outside the Akasaka Palace, Japan's guest house for visiting foreign leaders, in Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, as President Donald Trump meets Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. (AP Photo/Mayuko Ono)
Cars, including an American Ford F-150 truck are seen in the courtyard of the Akasaka Palace during President Donald Trump's visit in Japan, in Tokyo, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
In this image made from video, A Ford F-150, center, and two other American-made cars sit parked outside Akasaka Palace, in Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, as President Donald Trump meets Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. (AP Photo/Mayuko Ono)
A Ford F-150, center, and two other American-made cars sit parked outside the Akasaka Palace, Tokyo's guest house for visiting foreign leaders, in Minato, Japan, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, as President Donald Trump meets Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. (AP Photo/Mayuko Ono)
NEW YORK (AP) — Make no mistake, New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has heard all the harsh criticism this offseason.
There's no way to duck that much heat — especially when some of it's coming from your own kitchen.
But after saying goodbye to popular slugger Pete Alonso, star closer Edwin Díaz and two other Mets stalwarts before Christmas, a steadfast Stearns remains confident in his vision for 2026 and beyond.
“Clearly, this has been an offseason with a lot of change. Some of that change has been really tough," Stearns said Tuesday at a Citi Field luncheon with Mets beat reporters.
"I certainly understand that there have been points in this offseason that have been frustrating for our fan base. We’re not blind to that at all. I’m certainly not blind to that. I hear it. I recognize it. I hear it from my friends and family, at times. I’m also very convicted that what we are doing is the right thing for our franchise going forward to accomplish our goals of creating a consistent playoff team. A team that year after year is a true World Series contender.”
In addition to letting Alonso and Díaz leave as free agents, Stearns traded outfielder Brandon Nimmo and versatile veteran Jeff McNeil — both homegrown Mets.
New York signed closer Devin Williams to a $51 million, three-year contract, infielder Jorge Polanco to a $40 million, two-year deal and reliever Luke Weaver to a $22 million, two-year agreement. With the club intent on improving its defense, Gold Glove second baseman Marcus Semien was acquired from Texas in the trade for Nimmo.
“It has not been hard for me to stay patient and stick to my principles,” said Stearns, raised in New York City. “I grew up a Mets fan. I love the Mets. I am committed to doing this job in a way that I think truly sets us up for success for a sustained period of time. That’s why I want to be here.
"And so I think that end goal and that end desire and that motivation makes it much easier for me to not be swayed by some near-term sentiment. As difficult as near-term sentiment can be, and certainly in this town as loud as it can be, I understand ultimately what our task is, what our mission is, and I believe we’re on our way to achieving it.”
Looking for a big bat in the outfield to pair with Juan Soto, the Mets are believed to to be pursuing free agent Kyle Tucker, who batted .266 with 22 homers, 73 RBIs and an .841 OPS in 136 games for the Chicago Cubs last season.
Last year’s World Series teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays, are thought to be the other finalists for Tucker.
New York finished 83-79 last season and missed the playoffs even though owner Steve Cohen was on track to be baseball's second-biggest spender at $431 million in projected payroll and luxury tax.
“What we’ve done previously has not been good enough. We all know that. I certainly know that. And we’ve got to do better,” Stearns said. “We have elite talent at the top of our major league roster. We’ve got a very good farm system. And we’ve got a very good present-day major league team as we sit here today that’s going to get better before we get to opening day.”
Stearns, a small-market success while running the Milwaukee Brewers, pointed to young Mets players like catcher Francisco Alvarez, third baseman Brett Baty and pitcher Nolan McLean as reasons for both immediate and long-term optimism.
“We do think we’ve got a really special crop of young starters,” Stearns said. “I think to this point we’ve yielded really good prospects, and the next challenge for us is let’s turn them into really good major league players.
"I think we’re going to be able to be a good team and win games in somewhat different ways than maybe we have over the past couple of years, and the roster we’re putting together I think will reflect that.”
Top prospect Carson Benge will get a chance to make the big league team out of spring training, possibly in center field.
“We think this is going to be a really good player who’s going to be good here for a long time. Whether that begins on opening day, I’m not sure yet,” Stearns said. "There’s not a lot that we don’t like.”
Left-handed reliever A.J. Minter, rehabbing from surgery for a torn left lat muscle, probably won't be ready for opening day. "But it shouldn’t be too far into the season,” Stearns said.
Christian Scott is expected back following Tommy John surgery in September 2024.
“He’ll be fully ready to go. Exactly how we ramp his season, I think we still have to determine that,” Stearns said.
Third baseman Mark Vientos is expected to get playing time at first along with Polanco.
Stearns said Soto has “worked incredibly hard” on improving his defense this offseason in the Dominican Republic.
“I think Juan can get materially better and I think Juan is the type of person and player when he puts his mind to something, generally achieves it,” Stearns said. “We have to be better at keeping runs off the board. Our pitching and defense has to be better."
McLean and fellow right-hander Clay Holmes are set to pitch for the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic in March.
“We are having conversations with both of those guys about workload,” Stearns said.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb
FILE - New York Mets' Pete Alonso gathers his belongings in the dugout after the Mets lost to the Miami Marlins in a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky,File)
FILE - New York Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns responds to questions during a news conference about MLB trade deadline deals, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith, File)
