Japan’s PM is going to be honored as the first foreign leader to meet US President-elect Donald Trump, since the election last week.
Shinzo Abe said he wanted to “build trust” and “work together for prosperity and world peace”, before leaving for his trip.
Mr Trump has said Japan should pay more to keep US troops.
He also condemned a significant trade deal reached with other Pacific Rim nations and Japan by President Obama.
When the US helped Japan reconstruct its market, the US and Japan have been crucial allies since the ending of World War Two.
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Mr Abe is quitting to an Asia Pacific commerce summit in Peru in The Big Apple on his way.
But details of Thursday’s assembly are not clear, with a Japanese official saying just where it is going to occur hasn’t been firmed up.
