Justin Trudeau Raves About Bringing ‘Partner’ Katy Perry to Meet Japan’s Ex-Prime Minister in First Joint Political Appearance

Katy Perry eased into the world of politics this week as she and partner Justin Trudeau made a diplomatic stop in Japan.

The pop star and the former Canadian prime minister visited with former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife, Yuko, on Wednesday, Dec. 3. Kishida shared a photo of the foursome posing by a Christmas tree in a post on X, calling Perry the “partner” of Trudeau.

“Former Canadian Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau visited Japan with his partner and joined my wife and me for lunch,” he wrote in Japanese.

“During his time as prime minister, we met multiple times as fellow leaders, and when I visited Canada, we worked together to strengthen bilateral relations, including formulating the ‘Japan-Canada Action Plan,’ sweating it out side by side,” Kishida, 68, continued. “I am delighted that we continue to maintain this friendship in this way.”

Trudeau expressed the same sentiment when he reposted Kishida’s message.

“Great to see you @kishida230,” he wrote. “Katy and I were so glad to have the chance to sit down with you and Yuko. Thank you, Fumio, for your friendship and your continued commitment to both the international rules-based order and to a better future for everyone.”

Perry, 41, and Trudeau, 53, were initially spotted spending time together in July. The singer had recently separated from her ex-fiancé, Orlando Bloom, in June. Trudeau, meanwhile, had separated from his wife, Sophie Grégoire, after 18 years of marriage in 2023.

The pair were seen together off and on in the following months, as Perry toured the world on her Lifetimes Tour. On Oct. 25, they made their first public appearance as a couple, attending a cabaret show at the Crazy Horse Paris to mark Perry’s 41st birthday.

In photos from the night, Perry and Trudeau were beaming as they exited the theater holding hands.

This week’s meeting with Kishida and his wife, however, marks the first time Perry has joined her partner in any political capacity.

Late last month, a source close to Perry told PEOPLE that the pair were getting more serious, in terms of “making plans for the holidays.”

The winter break will be focused on rest and relaxation for the “Dark Horse” singer, who wraps up nearly eight months of touring with her final Lifetimes tour performance in Abu Dhabi on Dec. 7.

“Without exaggeration, this year has been a whirlwind for her,” the source noted. “She hasn’t even had time to really think about her life after the tour.”

Family will certainly come first for Perry, who shares a 5-year-old daughter, Daisy Dove, with Bloom. “She’s a single mom now, and a lot of that is going to come into focus next year,” said the source.

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However, they also told PEOPLE that Trudeau continues to make the effort to be “exactly what [Perry] needs right now.”

“Justin keeps making a big effort to see her, and she’s excited about it,” the source said, adding that Perry “has a lot of fun with him.”