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Donald Trump is being lined up to present a trophy to the winner of a sumo tournament during his trip to Japan next month.
Officials are planning to invite the US president to watch the “Summer Basho” wrestling event in Tokyo with prime minister Shinzo Abe.
However security concerns may mean moving Mr Trump away from the VIP seats around the ring to a safer vantage point on the second floor.
“Some people may throw seat cushions,” a Japanese government source told the Japan Times . “It is very hard to guard.”
One plan involves Mr Abe and Mr Trump watching the final day of the tournament at the Ryogoku Kokugikan sporting arena on 26 May.
Show all 22 1 /22Sumo: Ancient Ritual to National Sport in pictures Sumo: Ancient Ritual to National Sport in pictures circa 1880: in contrast to todays Rikishi. Early Japanese heavyweight wrestlers shown here maintained a leaner body type
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Sumo: Ancient Ritual to National Sport in pictures The Dohyo is newly constructed before the start of each tournament. The roof of the ring is made to resemble a Shinto shrine showing the clear connection between ancient ritual and the sport of today
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Sumo: Ancient Ritual to National Sport in pictures Oct 1991: Two contestants participate in the salt throwing ceremony before the contest commences in the Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall, London. The throwing of salt onto the ring is done to purify the space before every bout
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Sumo: Ancient Ritual to National Sport in pictures Nov 1991: Konishiki 'The Dumptruck' of Hawaii stares down at his opponent during the first Sumo Bashai held outside Japan, at the Albert Hall in London
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Sumo: Ancient Ritual to National Sport in pictures A referee or 'gyoji' wear traditional uniforms that are a mix of influences from the Heian, Ashikaga and Edo Periods. Similar to Rikishi, Gyoji start their careers in their as teenagers and are expected to live by a strict lifestyle
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Sumo: Ancient Ritual to National Sport in pictures Wrestlers must abide by a strict lifestyle and training regime. In times hazing or beatings of younger wrestlers was encouraged to strengthen wrestlers. "kawaigari" means "doting" in Japanese, but in the gruelling world of sumo it is a ironic euphemism for pushing a wrestler to the very limits of his physical and mental endurance
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Sumo: Ancient Ritual to National Sport in pictures As part of the strict hierarchy of stable life, younger wrestlers are expected to cook for higher ranks
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Sumo: Ancient Ritual to National Sport in pictures Masato Saito (L), the father of 17-year-old sumo wrestler Takashi Saito. Father of novice sumo wrestler speaks to press following the death of his son in Sumo training during the Tokitsukaze stable hazing scandal. It would later be discovered that Saito had been beaten with a beer bottle and baseball bat by Stable master Jun'ichi Yamamoto. The original cause of death had been recorded as heart failure. It was only after Saito's father insisted on an autopsy that the extent of the abuse was revealed to the public
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Sumo: Ancient Ritual to National Sport in pictures After morning training. The Rikishi will eat their first meal of the day. Meals will consist of up to ten bowls of rice and Chanko-nabe stew designed to gain bulk. Healthy wresters will also consume large quantities of beer with meals. After their two big meals of the day at lunch and evening the wrestler will sleep to further encourage the development of their trademark bellies
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Sumo: Ancient Ritual to National Sport in pictures Professional sumo wrestler Ichinojo (C) lifts and swing junior sumo wrestlers during an exhibition for children held at the central post office building in Tokyo at a ring temporarily constructed for the event in 2015
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Sumo: Ancient Ritual to National Sport in pictures This photo taken in 1985 shows then-yokozuna-ranked, or grand champion, sumo wrestler Chiyonofuji during the September Grand Sumo tournament in Tokyo
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Sumo: Ancient Ritual to National Sport in pictures A Japanese wrestler approaches the entrance of the sumo wrestling stadium in Ryogoku. Wrestlers are expected to wear traditiional clothing maintain strict dicipline when outside of the ring
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Sumo: Ancient Ritual to National Sport in pictures Mongolian-born sumo grand champion, or "yokozuna", Hakuho performs a ring-entering ceremony at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo. Three sumo grand champions Hakuho, Kakuryu and Harumafuji made their New Year pilgrimage to the shrine in 2016, pledging to work hard to make Japan's national sport a success in that year
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Sumo: Ancient Ritual to National Sport in pictures Georgian sumo wrestler Tochinoshin (top) displays his national flag to celebrate his promotion to ozeki or champion, sumo's second-highest rank, at his sumo stable in Tokyo on 30 May, 2018
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Sumo: Ancient Ritual to National Sport in pictures Former "yokozuna" or sumo grand champion Asashoryu of Mongolia (C) takes part in his last "dohyo-iri" or ring entering ritual at the start of his retirement ceremony at the Kokugikan stadium in Tokyo in 2010. More than 300 people, ranging from a professional boxer to a television personality, each cut a tiny portion of his knot with a large pair of gold-coloured scissors on the ring under the glare of fans and media. Asashoryu, often called a bad boy of the ancient sport, bade farewell to the ring as he had his topknot cut in a ritual to officially end his controversial career after a bust-up with the sport's authority
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Sumo: Ancient Ritual to National Sport in pictures Hairdressers are employed by the Sumo Association to create the tradional hair style that all wrestlers must have
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Sumo: Ancient Ritual to National Sport in pictures Sumo grand champion Asashoryu of Mongolia (R) cuts a part of the topknot of the Hawaiian-born former grand champion, or yokozuna, Musashimaru (C) during his topknot cutting ceremony in 2004. Musashimaru retired from Japanese professional sumo wrestling in November 2003
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Sumo: Ancient Ritual to National Sport in pictures Musashimaru cries during his topknot cutting ceremony
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Sumo: Ancient Ritual to National Sport in pictures The topknot cutting ceremony for Musashimaru
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Sumo: Ancient Ritual to National Sport in pictures Mongolian-born sumo grand champion, or "yokozuna", Kakuryu (C) performs a ring-entering ceremony at Meiji Shrine in 2016. Three sumo grand champions Hakuho, Kakuryu and Harumafuji made their New Year pilgrimage to the shrine
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Sumo: Ancient Ritual to National Sport in pictures Tadahiro Otake watching his sumo wrestlers train at a sumo stable in Tokyo. Most of the 610 wrestlers who are under the age of the venerable Japan Sumo Association are lodged in stables like this one; living, eating and sleeping together in facilities that allow for little personal space
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Sumo: Ancient Ritual to National Sport in pictures The popularity of Sumo continues to grow. Sumo wrestlers take part in a training session during a "Sumo Diet Campaign" event at Musashigawa Sumo Stable in Osaka, Japan. The Sumo Stable holds open day events for sumo fans to watch their training sessions, take part in sumo exercise classes and eat 'chanko-nabe' or 'sumo stew'; a favourite dish in the diet of sumo wrestlers
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The two leaders would then enter the sumo ring together to present a trophy to the winner.
During his three-day visit to Japan, Mr Trump is due to become the first world leader to meet the new emperor. Crown Prince Naruhito is due to ascend to the throne on 1 May following his father Akihito’s abdication.
The president’s schedule will also see him playing golf with Mr Abe, who has forged a close relationship with Mr Trump.
When the Republicans lost control of Congress in the November mid-terms, the Japanese prime minister congratulated him on a “historic victory”.
Mr Trump also claimed that Mr Abe had nominated him for a Nobel Prize.
Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The US president is due to return to Japan again in June for the G20 summit in Osaka. One of the aims of Japan’s presidency is to “exert strong leadership in discussions aimed towards resolving global issues such as climate change and ocean plastic waste.”
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