Legendary American investor Warren Buffett met with top executives from some of Japan’s leading energy and raw-materials conglomerates during his recent trip to Tokyo.

The executives, representing some of the country’s most elite firms, visited Buffett’s luxury suite at the Four Seasons Hotel in central Tokyo and were eager to pitch their ideas on how Japan’s trading houses could accelerate their move beyond commodities.

In these meetings, which took place over glasses of Coca-Cola, one of Buffett’s famed investments, the executives were poised to demonstrate their vision for the future of Japan’s economy, Bloomberg reported on Monday.

During the meeting, the 92-year-old billionaire listened intently to their proposals and probed the executives for insights into their businesses, economic outlooks, and future plans. Buffett’s interest in these companies is due in part to his significant stakes in them.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc, the firm led by Warren Buffett, purchased significant stakes in Japan’s five largest trading houses in 2020 and subsequently increased its holdings. As of the latest filings, the firm’s stake in these companies totals 7.4%. During a recent visit to Japan, Buffett expressed his intention to invest further in the country.

His renewed support for these companies, including Mitsubishi Corp., Mitsui & Co., Sumitomo Corp., Itochu Corp., and Marubeni Corp., is an important vote of confidence in Japan’s big-five traders and reflects Buffett’s long-term investment strategy and his confidence in the potential of Japan’s trading houses, highlighting the country’s continued relevance on the global stage.