Sworn in as the 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama faces high expectations not only at home, but also from close ally Japan, as he grapples with an unprecedented array of domestic and foreign policy issues.
In the case of Japan-U.S. relations, many who have been formally or informally tapped for high-level Asia-related posts are Japan hands whose views differ little, if at all, from now former President George W. Bush's advisers, at least on security issues.
Following are key issues the Obama administration faces in its relations with Japan.