U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized Japan's automotive trade as "unfair" and suggested that Japan increase its purchases of U.S. oil. This proposal was conveyed during an interview with Fox News and has drawn attention in Japan, where Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is reportedly considering the suggestion. The context of these remarks comes amid escalating trade tensions, with the U.S. set to impose 25% tariffs on Japanese imports starting August 1, 2025. In response, Prime Minister Ishiba has indicated that Japan may seek to reduce its reliance on the United States in critical sectors including security, food, and energy. This stance reflects growing concerns within Japan about the impact of U.S. tariffs and signals a potential shift in the traditionally strong bilateral alliance. Japanese business leaders and politicians have begun to express doubts about the unified front on tariffs, and financial firms such as Pimco note that Japan may diversify its capital sources as a result. Despite President Trump's criticism of Japan's trade surplus, former Japanese currency diplomats suggest Tokyo is unlikely to face pressure to support the yen. The developments underscore rising tensions between the two allies as Japan prepares to resist the new U.S. tariffs and reassess its economic and strategic dependencies.