The United States is tired of the frequent changes of prime minister in Japan in recent years and hopes to build a more robust relationship with Tokyo as a key partner in the Asia-Pacific region, experts say.
The last time a prime minister traveled to Washington and held talks with President Barack Obama was in February 2009, when Taro Aso was in office. Japan is on its third prime minister since then.
There had been plans for a trip by Yoshihiko Noda to Washington for talks with Obama this month, but the two countries postponed it to later in the year.