Trump was always friendly to Shinzo and has remained in good relations with Akie, according to reports. Former first lady Melania Trump will also attend the dinner.

The president-elect reportedly regularly calls Akie to check on her, and they scheduled their dinner directly with each other instead of using customary government channels, according to CNN.

Shinzo was one of the closest world leaders to Trump during his first term as president. The Japanese leader visited him at the White House and even played a round of golf with him at Mar-a-Lago. Shinzo gifted a gold-plated golf club to Trump during their first meeting.

Trump offered tremendous praise for Shinzo after his assassination, which took place while Shinzo was delivering a campaign speech.

“Few people know what a great man and leader Shinzo Abe was, but history will teach them and be kind,” Trump wrote. “He was a unifier like no other, but above all, he was a man who loved and cherished his magnificent country, Japan. Shinzo Abe will be greatly missed. There will never be another like him.”

Akie was married to Shinzo from 1987 until his death in 2022. She was Japan’s first lady during his two stints as prime minister spanning from 2006 to 2007 and 2012 to 2020.

She often disagreed with her husband on campaign issues, exemplified by the nickname the Japanese populace gave her: “the domestic opposition party.”