26 May
US President Donald Trump is spending a full day with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday, ahead of their summit on Monday.
Trump arrived at a Tokyo airport on Saturday for his four-day visit to Japan. He is Japan's first state guest in the new Reiwa era. His previous visit to Japan as president was in November 2017. On Sunday, the two leaders are sharing three meals together. They played golf near Tokyo together with pro golfer Isao Aoki. This is their fifth game of golf, following one in April in the United States. In the afternoon, they will enjoy the last day of the Summer Grand Sumo tournament.
Trump is to give the US President Cup to the winner of the tournament. At night, Abe's wife Akie and First Lady Melania will join them for a dinner of Japanese "robata" grilled cuisine. Monday's summit will be their eleventh, following one in Washington in April. The two leaders are scheduled to have another meeting next month on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Osaka.
Three summits in as many months is an extraordinary move for Japan and US leaders. Observers say Abe seeks to highlight for domestic and international audiences how solid the alliance between the two countries is.—NHK
