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© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Trump, Abe play a round of golf diplomacy
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daito_hak
I am trying to figure out how low an IQ should be in order that people end up holding love signs towards a intellectually limited man like Trump.....
smithinjapan
""Donald and Shinzo: Make Alliance Even Greater."
I wonder... when Abe pulls his nose out of Trump's butt to settle down in his lap, can he still smell normally? He's making Japan look like a laughing stock. And how many times did Trump complain about Obama playing golf "instead of doing his job"? Better yet, first, how many times comparatively speaking, have the two played golf on the job by comparison before remembering Trump and many posters on here complained about that?
Arrrgh-Type
Right, let's go to Japan and eat.... Hamburgers??
Christopher Glen
The posters make me laugh
Mike Wyckoff
yup, it's closer, and has bigger ass-kissers
smithinjapan
toshiko: "There must be a reason he went Japan first, not S. Korea."
The first reason is to get it out of the way. Meeting Abe and coming to Japan is not as important or difficult an issue as when he goes to South Korea to discuss SERIOUS matters. All he has to do in Japan is say something to Abe, and Abe will say "yes sir" and kiss Trump's bottom... doesn't matter what it is. The ONLY thing Trump wanted to do was play golf and discuss future arms sales. When he goes to South Korea it is going to be a lot more difficult as they don't kiss his butt like Abe does, and the issue of North Korea is of a lot more concern in South Korea, and there is a LOT more at stake. Same with when he goes to China -- he is going to have some very serious, and very more crucial negotiations. The President of China isn't a yes-man like Abe, and they differ on many things politically.
And then there's the obvious geographic reasons; Japan being an island nation it is very easy to go there first, then the Asian continent (mainland) for visiting a few countries from China to South Korea, and Vietnam. Do you think it makes more sense to go to South Korea, then fly across to Japan then back to the mainland again to visit China (or vice-versa)?
IloveCoffee
People really need to stop speaking on behalf of others.
Mike Wyckoff
ugh, get a room already!
Jimizo
Bass has evidence proving Obama played more golf. He said so. I asked him for a link but he said I’d dismiss it as partisan.
You have a try.
fxgai
They used American beef in the hamburgers.
It’s just a political appeal to pretend Japan is importing lots of US beef.
smithinjapan
bass4funk: "And?"
Well, at least you don't deny the sheer hypocrisy. That's a baby step, I guess. Good on you, bass. Of course, It's... what... already in one year Trump has spent ten times on the golf course that Obama spent in his entire two terms, so that's hypocrisy compound by 80 times or so.
mmwkdw
9 -10 Helicopters flying overhead in central Tokyo this afternoon - wonder how they managed not to collide, but I guess Trump was heading to the US Embassy near to Roppongi.
When the British PM came... you'd never have known.
smithinjapan
miyam_musashi: "A round of golf with Matsuyama at one of Japan's best golf courses. Great way to reciprocate for the royal treatment at Mar-a-Lago and to set the right tone for talks."
Yes, treating one to a game of golf instead of talking about the issues that affect 99.9% of the people of both nations and the world IS with a game of golf, but both games are ridiculous to begin with. Have a game, on behalf of the world, when you make it a better place; not when you engage in bombast, making it worse, and then even before you meet to discuss your next moves to alienate nations even further.
garypen
You don't often see a sentence with the words "Trump" and "diplomacy".
Toasted Heretic
Unfortunately, Trump and his deluded entourage seem to be under the impression that they are the makers and shakers of this fragile planet.
A game of golf to decide its future.
We; the little people don't matter a damn. Maybe we should stop caddying for these amateurs.
garypen
Or, exactly the opposite.
peterl
Trump spends more time playing golf than working. Whatever happened to his empty promises of spending more time at the White House and actually working. All he's done is spend more tax payer's money in the short time he's been in office than any other president before him.
Dukeleto
daito_hakNov. 5 06:24 pm JST
It’s just “rent-a-crowd” being paid by the hour. Nothing wrong with them intellectually, they just needed the work.
Laguna
Various news reports have described the strict rules governing dietary requirements due to Trump's visit (my favorite: "No fish with heads attached.") Doubtless the lunch came from his own chef, so it was really Abe eating "American food."
OssanAmerica
Really funny photo. Thanks for the laugh!
plasticmonkey
How much does this golfing and cheeseburgering and Mikimoto-ing and schmoozing cost taxpayers? Because nothing will come of it. Nothing.
mukashiyokatta
If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen -- roll on, Mr. Mueller!
sandiegoluv
Very good and true smithinjapan!!!
toshiko
There must be a reason he went Japan first, not S. Korea.
gokai_wo_maneku
It seems odd to me that Ivanka comes to Tokyo and then leaves the day before her father arrives. What a festival it would have been to have them all here at once eating together at some famous restaurant. Are they not speaking to each other?
Dirk T
Does Abe really have an alternative to developing a close relationship with Trump with Russosphere and Sinosphere enlarging their influence?
starpunk
You have GOT to be kidding here! Does Japan really love and welcome that immoral uncouth dirtbag? And that circle w/ a cross symbol on the left guy's purplish jacket - that resembles symbols used by Aryan 'white power' racist/KKK terrorist filth groups in the U.S.A. I'm deeply disappointed that anyone in Japan would even have anything to do with this warmonger especially since the Japanese have made great strides after their totalitarian regime fell in 1945. Now this. Sad sad SAD.
daito_hak
That would be even worse, they get paid to be stupid.
OssanAmerica
Yes people, one photograph determines how all Japanese think about Trump. I understand there was also an anti-Trump demo somewhere that didn't get covered here.
25psot
Japan U-turn on Trump very surprising.
runner3
Nice game of gulf beore war! People put the signs down this crazy man is going to ruin Japan!
Alexandre T. Ishii
The formula of this meeting:NK(Trump+Abe) - :D = Dark Ages
bass4funk
Not at all.
And?
CaptDingleheimer
Saw the photo and knew I had to come straight to the comments to see everyone losing their minds!
Jim Wilson
It looks like Trump and Abe truly like each other!
smithinjapan
toshiko: "Hamburgers are really considered gourmet meal in Japan"
It's kind of like the "simple is best" that becomes oxymoronic when you get a pizza covered in corn, chicken, tomato and teriyaki sauce, kalbi, and mayonnaise. There is nothing "gourmet" about a hamburger, between pieces of bread or on a plate. And grinding up a filet mignon should be a crime, especially Kobe beef.
"Japan teriyaki beef is just supper beef but in Vegas, Teriyaki beef is served as gourmet beef."
There's also a 'samurai burger' at many McDonald's abroad which is teriyaki. Are you telling us that McDonald's is gourmet, too?
peterl: "All he's done is spend more tax payer's money in the short time he's been in office than any other president before him."
And with his tax breaks that will see the middle class paying more and giving himself and other billionaires a tax break by cutting the real estate tax, we'll be paying even more for him to waste our money and the time he is supposed to be working.
fxgai
Looking forward to the post-dinner gossip about how the wives went. Akie seemingly let the team down last time.
mmwkdw
Dinner where ? Gonpachi ? or hosted privately somewhere secretive ?
Wallace Fred
Hmm, wheres the news about the anti-trump rally in Shibuya? Its absence is pretty telling me thinks.
Moderator: See Picture of the Day.
Wallace Fred
I stand corrected.
Akie
Abe loves Trump, he has to, he is the leader, the boss. Diplomacy ? hardly.
Akie
Trump is loved for "America first". Why can't Abe do that ? Is Abe genuine or what ?
aemit2
Nice pictures.
I kinda wonder what the "full of spirited conversation" consisted of :)
toshiko
It īs winter in Japan. Air Force 1 arrived to Yokota and American soldiers welcomed. He spoke from his he head. But he did not mispronounce the names of Japanese officials who welcomed him.
Miyam_Musashi
A round of golf with Matsuyama at one of Japan's best golf courses. Great way to reciprocate for the royal treatment at Mar-a-Lago and to set the right tone for talks.
When the detractors get riled up, Trump and Abe must be doing something right.
dcog9065
It’s good that these 2 have such a close relationship. The previous administrations were changing so fast, no strong long term relationships could be formed.
It looks like Trump will be given a good trip
toshiko
Hamburgers are really considered gourmet meal in Japan. Kobe beef filet minions get ground. In Japan teriyaki beef is just supper beef but in Vegas, Teriyaki beef is served as gourmet beef.
toshiko
Yokota soldiers and their wives were enjoying meeting President and Melanie. Meanwhile US video news channels ignored Kim and his family video yesterday.
clamenza
Ironic statement of the year!
goldeneagle
Who say's people in Japan don't change. They just went from hating Trump to loving him in less than a year.
Bill Wright
The President’s Asian trip will be to address the following;
1) Reaffirm the United States commitment to our Asian allies.
2) Address trade issues.
3) China’s expansion in the Westren Pacific. and
4) the continuing North Korean nuclear threat.
To suggest anything else is Ludacris and without merit.
ebisen
I don't really like Trump, but given his money, he could eat the best Japanese food existing, everyday, breakfast, lunch and dinner, in US, if he REALLY wanted to. No need to fly all the way to Japan only to do that. So hamburgers are just as good as choice... I'm sure they were not McDonald's 100 JPY burgers either...
Jtsnose
Beautiful . . . looks like the two countries will have a great friendship.
Kirei . . . mimasu Nihon to Hokubei tomodachi mirai desu.
clamenza
And that it, Bass. Just more complaining in the echo chambers..
clamenza
Japan loves President Trump!
Texas A&M Aggie
Great lead photo with this article.
The left yammers on and on that global leaders don't respect President Trump. Then again, they think Iran, NK, Cuba and Venezuela, constitute the entire world. . . .
Ryder
President Trump, working to make the world great again. And asking nothing in exchange. We are witnessing history, as North Korea will soon be freed from the despots.