What was once alternately dismissed as a marketing ploy, a publicity stunt, a joke, America's flirtation with authoritarianism and a long shot, will now control the next administration of the United States. Whatever shock that may come from the result will need to quickly be put aside as decision-makers in Tokyo and the rest of Asia begin to grapple with how to deal pragmatically with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
The first thing to realize about the Trump administration is that it will involve serious people, not only sycophants, careerists, and Twitter eggs. Trump has supporters beyond the internet fever swamps of the alt-right and the loud partisans that pack his rallies.
Many of these people have extensive government, policy and political experience, and understand how to work the levers of power. But they are not generally "establishment" people, people that foreign governments have worked with in the past and have familiarity with.