SUMO DIPLOMACY
Trump, Abe bond in Japan
• It was a day of sumo-sized diplomacy.
Plenty of world leaders have tried to butter up U.S. President Donald Trump with flattery and favours. Japan’s Shinzo Abe on Sunday raised the bar for all of them.
First Abe treated his friend to a round of golf (with tweeted selfie). Then the prime minister allowed Trump to take centre stage at a sumo wrestling match, where he and his wife, Melania, spent the better part of the day watching large men in loin cloths and bare feet brawl inside a ring.
When it was over, Trump did what no other American president has done. Climbing into the elevated dirt ring, or “dohyo,” in ceremonial slippers, he presented a hulking 27-kilogram trophy to the tournament champion — a cup that Trump said he hoped would be used for “many hundreds of years.”
“I hereby award you the United States President’s Cup,” Trump told Asanoyama, the sumo champion, as he read from a scroll.
From there, it was off to a “couple’s dinner” for the Trumps and Abes.
The golf, sumo, dinner — with a cheeseburger lunch wedged in — were part of a diplomatic package designed by Abe to stay on Trump’s good side amid tensions between their governments over trade and other issues.
Sunday was all about keeping Trump happy. An effusive Abe described their buddy time as “cosy.”
It began with 16 holes of golf at Mobara Country Club, where they were joined by Japanese pro Isao Aoki. On the lunch menu: double cheeseburgers, made with U.S. beef.
Abe next introduced Trump to Japan’s ancient sport of sumo wrestling, which Trump had previously said he finds “fascinating.” Even so, at times he appeared somewhat bored at Ryogoku Kokugikan Stadium.
Loud applause greeted Trump as he entered the arena and took his seat, in a break from the custom of sitting cross-legged on cushions. Trump, Abe and their wives were among an estimated 11,500 fans there to see who would claim the title.
The Japan Sumo Association put in place special safety precautions because of Trump’s presence, including selling fewer same-day tickets and banning the ritual of the tossing of seat cushions by those disappointed with the outcome.
Match over, Trump walked onto the stage in dark slippers — shoes are banned from the ring — to present the cup.
The president praised Asanoyama’s “outstanding achievement” and then hoisted the trophy, which the White House said was 137 centimetres tall, into Asanoyama’s arms with assistance from an official.
It was fitting entertainment for the businessman president who in past times helped promote the World Wrestling Federation back home. Trump sponsored major events, appeared in bits and was inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2013.
He tweeted after the match that it was his “great honour to present the firstever President’s Cup.”
Another honour awaited Trump on Monday when he was set to become, at Abe’s invitation, the first head of state to meet Japan’s new emperor, Naruhito, who succeeded his father on May 1. Trump also was to be the guest of honour at a banquet hosted by the emperor at Japan’s Imperial Palace.
Beyond all the pageantry, Trump and Abe scheduled talks Monday and planned to hold a joint news conference. But Trump set measured expectations for what would be accomplished, tweeting that serious trade negotiations with the Japanese “will wait until after their July elections,” referring to upcoming parliamentary elections.
As for Sunday, Trump summed it up thus just before a hibachi dinner with Abe and their wives: “We’ve had a great time, a great day, and tomorrow is really the big event, a very important event in the history of Japan. It’s over 200 years since something like this has happened so it’s a great honour to be representing the United States.”
Said Abe after the golf game: “We were able to exchange our views frankly in a cosy atmosphere. It was wonderful.”