President Trump has made history during his four-day state visit to Japan with the First Lady Melania by his side. Trump is the first world leader to meet Japan’s new Emperor Crown Prince Naruhito who acceded to the Chrysanthemum Throne on May 1, 2019.
Upon arriving in Japan, the Trumps were greeted by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako with a welcoming ceremony. The red carpet was rolled out for President Trump as he inspected Japanese troops and excited school children who were lined up waving both the Japanese and American flags. Which was followed by a reception that included Japanese and American dignitaries, business leaders and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife, Akie.
During trade talks, Trump expressed this was the perfect time to invest in America. He blamed Federal Reserve’s policies that caused US economic growth from improving. Trump also discussed the trade imbalance between Japan and the United States and how Japan has been in the lead for many years. According to Presstv, Trump stated, “with this deal we hope to address the trade imbalance, removing barriers to United States exports and ensure fairness and reciprocity in our relationship.”
The Trumps also enjoyed an array of entertainment during their visit. President Trump and First Lady Melania attended the final day of a 15-day Sumo wrestling tournament at the Ryogoku Kokigikan Sumo Hall in Tokyo, Japan. This was also the first Sumo wrestling event attended by any US President. Trump awarded the first “United States President’s Cup,” which weighs 60 pounds to Sumo champion Asanoyama and stated, “in honor of your outstanding achievement as sumo grand champion, I hereby award you the United States President’s Cup.”
During their trip, President Trump also enjoyed a game of golf with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Mobara Country Club. While Trump enjoyed playing golf First Lady Melania also visited the Mori Building Digital Art Museum in Tokyo with Akie Abe. Melania enjoyed the interactive museum in which she drew animals with the children at the digitally projected aquarium. The Abes and the Trumps later enjoyed dinner at the Inakaya restaurant. The Prime Minister’s wife Akie Abe also invited Melania to the Akasaka Palace to enjoy a enjoyed a cultural experience.
President Trump and First Lady Melania also enjoyed a six-course dinner at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo which was hosted by the Japanese emperor and empress. The President who never drinks alcohol was served champagne during dinner and politely lifted his glass putting it to his lips. Trump has never liked alcohol and never will. The reason for his decision never to drink is because his older brother, Fred Jr., who was an alcoholic and died in 1981 as a result at the age of 43.
In keeping with the Japanese tradition of exchanging gifts, President Trump gave the emperor a 1938 handmade viola made in Charleston, West Virginia and a signed photo of American composer Aaron Copland, and himself. Melania also presented the empress with a custom White House desk set that included a pen carved from a red oak tree in Old Harvard Yard, in which the empress had been an undergraduate.
In return, the emperor presented President Trump with a traditional Japanese pottery and porcelain bowl and included a signed framed photo of himself. The empress gave Melania an ornamental Japanese lacquer box with traditional design and a framed photo of herself.
