Bunker flip by Abe highlights golf diplomacy with Trump

President Donald Trump, center, waves as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, right, and he finish playing golf at Kasumigaseki Country Club, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017, in Kawagoe, Japan. Trump is on a five country trip through Asia traveling to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines. AP

TOKYO—Japan’s prime minister said his round of golf with visiting US President Donald Trump was a good chance to relax and discuss difficult issues.

It also was an opportunity to display some nimble gymnastics, according to Japan’s TV Tokyo.

The television network flew a helicopter over Kasumigaseki Country Club on Sunday to capture the highly anticipated informal game.

It broadcast a video showing a player identified as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe trying repeatedly to hit his ball out of a steep bunker. As he finally made the shot, Trump began walking away, and Abe ran up the side of the bunker to catch up.

But just as the 63-year-old prime minister stepped onto the grass, he slipped, making a backward flip down into the sand. He quickly stood up and picked up his cap.

Trump apparently never noticed the flip as he walked away, his back to Abe. An attendant raking the sand also continued his work.

Japanese widely shared the video on Twitter on Thursday. “Don’t miss Abe’s rolling-down-the-bunker video,” many of the tweets said. Some called Abe’s flip “cute.”

Tabloid magazines raised questions over whether the two leaders really talked during the game. The popular Nikkan Gendai said they had little conversation, with Abe often falling behind Trump, who reportedly spent much of his time chatting with a third player, renowned Japanese pro Hideki Matsuyama.

After the golf, Abe told reporters that he and Trump had a deep discussion on serious issues, but added that their scores were secret. The two leaders also played golf when Abe visited Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida in February.  —AP