Donald Trump to attend sumo match in Japan. America won’t come first

The White House has requested front-row seats for the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament during the president’s three-day visit to Japan in May

Though Hawaii has produced top wrestlers in the past, Trump has little hope of watching an American lift the trophy

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US President Donald Trump: heading to Japan. Photo: AFP

Published: 2:52pm, 15 Apr 2019Updated: 11:51am, 16 Apr 2019

US President Donald Trump is expected to attend the final day of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo in late May and may be granted the honour of awarding the Emperor’s Cup to the victorious wrestler.

The White House has requested front-row box seats at the Ryogoku Sumo Stadium on May 26, the final day of the two-week tournament, and the Japan Sumo Association is making preparations for the visit.

Those preparations will include ensuring security for the president and his party while they are in the stadium that is at the heart of Japan’s national sport.

Unless modifications are made to the boxes, the US president will sit on the floor in a space about 1.3 metres square and about 5 metres from the raised clay “dohyo” where the wrestlers fight.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is also expected to attend the final day of the tournament, which will take place on the first day of Trump’s three-day visit to Japan.

Sumo wrestlers fight at the Grand Sumo Tournament in Hawaii. Hawaii has produced top sumo wrestlers in the past, but none are likely to win in front of Trump during his visit in May. Photo: AFP

A number of Hawaiian wrestlers have in the past risen to the highest ranks in this ancient and highly ritualised sport, although there are no Americans presently in the top levels of the sport and in with a chance of lifting the trophy.

Trump and Abe may also be joined at the event by the new emperor and empress of Japan as they traditionally attend one day of each tournament in Tokyo, although the emperor has his own box.

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