As part of a four-day visit to Japan, US President Donald Trump tucked into traditional Japanese barbecue at a hibachi restaurant in Tokyo’s popular Roppongi district on Sunday.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie Abe hosted the US president and first lady, Melania Trump for an intimate and informal dinner at Inakaya restaurant. The hibachi restaurant serves barbecue dishes with food prepared over a hot open grill.
On the menu for the Trump party was Japanese baked potato with butter, followed by salad and a course of grilled chicken. Wagyu beef steak served with broccoli and carrots concluded the meal, which was rounded-off with vanilla ice cream for dessert.
Here's a video showing the cooking technique at Inakaya restaurant:
During the meal, Trump said that he had talked a lot with the Prime Minister about trade, military and various other things throughout the day. He said that he hoped tomorrow would be similarly productive.
Dining in the lively Roppongi district means that the group were well placed to continue their evening after the meal if they wished, as the neighborhood is known for its nightlife.
Observing tradition
The traditional style of dining wasn’t Trump's first immersion into Japanese culture on the visit. Earlier in the evening, he became the first US President to attend a sumo tournament when he presented The United States President’s Cup trophy to the winner of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament. During dinner, he commented on the sport: “That was an incredible evening at sumo.”
伝統ある大相撲をトランプ大統領と観戦しました。現役の米国大統領として初めてのことです。大きな歓声とともに、トランプ大統領から真新しい大統領杯が、朝乃山関に手渡されました。 pic.twitter.com/dLEVA1rDrE
— 安倍晋三 (@AbeShinzo) May 26, 2019
It’s not the first time the politicians have eaten together in a local Japanese restaurant. Two years ago, the pair enjoyed teppanyaki together at Tokyo’s Ginza Ukai Tei. This tradition of intimate, informal dining is typical when Japanese leaders host US presidents, and is often thought of as a way to break down barriers.
The President and first lady are staying just fifteen minutes away from the Roppongi district at the Palace Hotel in Marunouchi, a fairly new Japanese hotel that is known for its sense of omotenashi, or Japanese hospitality.
Photos of the Palace Hotel, where the Trumps are staying:
Located across a moat from Japan’s Imperial Palace, which is the seat of the world’s longest continuous monarchy, the hotel in one of Tokyo's most prestigious business districts is home to the country’s only Evian spa and will soon house the newest restaurant from Alain Ducasse, the most Michelin-lauded chef in the world.
Earlier in the day, Trump and Abe also spent time playing golf at the Mobara Country Club in Tokyo’s Chiba Prefecture, where they took time to capture a selfie that Abe posted on his official Twitter account.
令和初の国賓としてお迎えしたトランプ大統領と千葉でゴルフです。新しい令和の時代も日米同盟をさらに揺るぎないものとしていきたいと考えています。 pic.twitter.com/8ol8790xWY
— 安倍晋三 (@AbeShinzo) May 26, 2019
