The Americans trusted the Japanese in the prelude to WW2. They believed that the Japanese would not attack America without a declaration of war. For their naivety in trusting the Japanese, the Americans paid a very heavy price in American lives and military assets. The American Pacific Fleet was practically destroyed. After awakening from their stupidity, the Americans locked up every Japanese in America in the equivalents of concentration camp. They did not trust a single Japanese then.
The Americans today open mouth and close mouth claimed that Japan is their most reliable ally, or the most compliant colony? The Americans have all the good words for the Japanese, the most trusted ally of the American Empire. But before they reached this stage, they dropped two Atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and carpet bombed Tokyo on the last phase of WW2 to defang the beast.
The Americans imposed on the Japanese a Pacifist Constitution to put a ring around the Japanese neck, to make sure they did not turn untrustworthy again, did not turn militant again. To make sure that it is not just a piece of paper, the American built many military bases in Japan, deploying more than 50,000 soldiers to keep the Japanese in a leash. With these in place, the Americans can now feel safe to say they 'trusted' the Japanese. Oh, the Japanese Self Defence Force will come under the control of the American commanders in Japan in a crisis. No way will the Americans loosen the clutches on their 'trustworthy' Japanese ally.
In many ways, the Americans are rearming the Japanese into a formidable force, but never to threaten the Americans. The Americans are watching the Japanese closely, just like a fierce dog under leash. The master is still the Americans. The loosening of the grip on Japan is not because the Americans trusted the Japanese. The Americans are not fools. It is all because of China and Russia. The Americans game plan is to make the Japanese their point men in a war with China or Russia. Any attacks would be aimed directly at Japan first. Japan would be the first country to be destroyed in a war with China or Russia, America's first line of defence. This is the same thinking as the Japanese in turning Okinawa into a military fortress, to absorb the first barrage of bombs and missiles, the Ryukuans to be the first to be killed and destroyed.
Yes, the Americans trust the Japanese, but with a leash in their hands. They can only trust a beast that they have full control, not a beast that can run wild and turn around to bite them. This is American wisdom. Japan will forever be an American colony and the sacrificial lamb against China and Russia.
The Americans also know that the Japanese would want to dupe the Americans into a war with China or Russia, for them to destroy each other. Both 'trust' each other only in words but not in deeds. When the Americans and Japanese are hugging each other, they have a dagger hidden behind their backs. The Japanese are still trying to claim every little island in the western Pacific Ocean. How can they tolerate their main islands being in the hands of the Americans, being colony of the American Empire? Think!
Anyone still believes the Americans trusted the Japanese? Or the Japanese trusted the Americans?