Trump watches 'incredible' sumo wrestling in Japan

US President Donald Trump, on a four-day visit to Japan, spent what he said was "an incredible evening" watching the Japanese national sport of sumo on Sunday, although the visit left some wrestling fans grumbling over tight security.

Answering a request from Trump, who said last month that he'd always found the sport - where nearly naked wrestlers grapple on a raised sand ring - "fascinating," sumo officials prepared for the unprecedented visit as the climax to a day of bonding between Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over hamburgers and golf.

"I've always wanted to see sumo wrestling, so that was really great," Trump said at the start of a dinner with Abe, accompanied by his wife, Melania, and Abe's wife Akie, just after the match.

About 1,000 of the 11,000 seats in the legendary Kokugikan sumo venue, including some of the most expensive, were reserved for Trump, Abe and their security teams.

US and Japanese secret security agents paced through the venue hours before Trump's arrival and lined the hallways that take the wrestlers to the ring, while ordinary fans had to pass through metal detectors and take a sip of any beverages they brought with them in front of security.

Other departures from tradition had prompted complaints ahead of time, including the provision of armchairs for Trump and his wife Melania instead of the "zabuton" floor cushions customarily used by ringside spectators and a ban on the sale of bottled beer and hot tea.

The match was also paused for Trump and Abe's arrival, just before the bout of tournament winner Asanoyama, a rising Japanese star.

Trump presented the 25-year-old Asanoyama with a custom-made trophy called the United States President's Cup - a set of wooden stairs fitted to the side of the raised sumo ring to make it easy for him to ascend for the prize-giving.

Other fans took the changes in good part, waving to Trump as he entered and pulling out their phones to take photos.

Ami Miyazaki