What does "playing the usual kabuki" mean?
Solution 1:
This would not be a standard American English idiom as kabuki theater isn't common in the US. However, the context would be understood as the similar phrase "the usual song and dance", just substituting some Japanese flavor. In other words, the sentence is saying that instead of difficult negotiations featuring hard lines and begrudging compromises, by giving a Trump something he can boast about quickly, Japan is likely to see favorable treatment on future requests or implementation.