Biden rolled out the red carpet for Kishida with a lavish dinner, plus music by US singer Paul Simon, as he underscored Japan's importance as a key ally against Beijing in the Asia-Pacific region.
The two leaders even agreed that a Japanese astronaut will be the first non-American to walk on the Moon, as they sought to take the alliance to new heights.
"This is the most significant upgrade in our alliance since it was first established," Biden, 81, told a press conference with Kishida in the White House Rose Garden.
The two leaders unveiled plans to restructure the US military command in Japan, the biggest such change since the 1960s. The move is aimed at making US and Japanese forces more nimble in the event of threats, such as a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
The United States, Japan and Australia would also launch a joint air defense network, while Britain would take part in military exercises with Washington and Tokyo.
- 'Peace and stability' -
For his part, Kishida hailed the Japan-US alliance as crucial for upholding peace and democracy in the region, where China has been increasingly assertive.
He called for "peace and stability" across the Taiwan Strait -- but also took aim at Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
"Ukraine today, maybe East Asia tomorrow," he said.
Biden insisted that the military upgrade in China's backyard was "purely defensive" but has made no bones about his desire to create alliances to counter China.
On Thursday, he will host the first trilateral summit between Japan, the Philippines and the United States, to support Manila amid tensions with China in the South China Sea.
US officials said the broader boost in ties was also aimed at reassuring allies of long-term support even if Donald Trump beats Biden in November's US presidential election.
The pomp-filled state visit for Kishida was however also meant to underscore the broader cultural and economic relations between two allied nations who were at war 80 years ago.
Biden announced that a Japanese person will be the first non-American to walk on the Moon, flying on a US mission due to take place in a few years' time.
The leaders also announced deals for technology, including artificial intelligence and the economy.
- 'Boldly go' -
The rest of the day was dedicated to extravagant hosting of 66-year-old Kishida and his wife Yuko.
Guests at the White House state dinner included actor Robert DeNiro, Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, Apple chief Tim Cook, and former president Bill Clinton and ex-secretary of state Hillary Clinton, the White House said.
Biden led the room in a toast "to our alliance, to our friendship."
In his toast Kishida quoted lines from the cult 1960s US television show Star Trek, whose title sequence referred to space as the "final frontier" and described a mission to "boldly go where no man has gone before."
"I would like to propose a toast to our voyage to the frontier of the US-Japan relationship with these words -- boldly go!" said Kishida, also noting the Japanese heritage of star George Takei.
Sitting at tables decorated by fans and cherry blossom branches, guests tucked into house-cured salmon, dry-aged rib eye with wasabi sauce, and salted caramel pistachio cake with cherry ice cream.
After dinner, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" star Simon was due to perform a selection of songs.
Kishida is the first Japanese leader to get a US state visit since Shinzo Abe in 2015, and only the fifth world leader to receive one since Biden took office in 2021.
Four of those have been Asian leaders, reflecting Biden's strategic priorities even as he wrestles with wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
Staunchly pacifist for decades, Japan has in recent years made "some of the most significant, momentous changes" since World War II, US ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said ahead of the visit.
US-Japan defense 'new era': key things to know
Washington (AFP) April 11, 2024 -
The United States and Japan on Wednesday agreed to boost defense ties in what President Joe Biden called "the most significant upgrade in our alliance since it was first established."
Biden and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida released a joint statement covering collaboration in spheres from space to semiconductors, but the crux of the document was defense.
The "new era of US-Japan cooperation" is aimed at better countering an assertive China, the two leaders said, and comes as long-pacifist Japan hikes defense spending, acquires counter-strike capabilities and brings all its forces under one command.
What have the countries agreed?
There are around 54,000 US military personnel in Japan but currently they report to Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii, around 6,500 kilometers (4,000 miles) away and 19 hours behind.
The joint statement issued at the White House said the two sides want to "bilaterally upgrade our respective command and control frameworks to enable seamless integration of operations and capabilities."
Details will be hammered out, but the new framework will "allow for greater interoperability and planning between US and Japanese forces in peacetime and during contingencies."
Where will they deepen cooperation?
The pair also said they would create a new forum between their defense ministries for discussing policies to "better integrate and align our defense industrial policy, acquisition, and science and technology ecosystems."
That would involve "co-development and co-production of missiles" and maintenance of US military ships and aircraft at Japanese commercial facilities, they said.
The nations plan to boost cooperation in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance as well as cybersecurity.
They will also explore creating a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief hub in Japan, the statement said, without giving further details.
The statement also touted several existing initiatives, including a deal for Japan to buy long-range Tomahawk missiles from the United States and US plans to relocate an air base in the southern region of Okinawa.
Are other countries involved?
Other countries in the region are also alarmed by Chinese activities. On Thursday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Kishida and Biden will hold their first trilateral summit.
The US-Japan statement also set out a "vision to cooperate on a networked air defense architecture among the United States, Japan and Australia to counter growing air and missile threats."
The AUKUS security partnership -- the United States, Australia and Britain -- is "considering" cooperating with Japan on advanced defense technology, the two nations said, echoing a previous AUKUS statement.
Britain announced it will take part in regular joint military exercises with Washington and Tokyo starting in 2025, which Wednesday's statement welcomed.
Japan joined the United States, Australia and the Philippines for military drills in the South China Sea at the weekend that riled Beijing.
How important are the new announcements?
James Brady of the Teneo risk consultancy told AFP that while the "guiding principle clearly remains that of deterrence," the agreements should help the pair respond to regional security threats.
"In operational terms, harmonized changes to the command and control frameworks should make the two sides' militaries more prepared than ever to deal with a future contingency in the region -- be that with China or North Korea," he said.
"It would not be an exaggeration to say that this visit marks the all-time high-water mark of US-Japan relations," Brady added.
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