Sumo, selfies, and nuclear relations: 5 top moments from Trump's visit to Japan

Trump presented the winner with the newly made "Trump Trophy."

The president also broke several traditions during his visit to the tournament, breaking from past precedent to give a presentation between matches. And while viewers generally sit on cushions on the ground, called zabutons, Trump and his wife, Melania, were given chairs.

People who enter the elevated dirt wrestling ring — called a dohyo — are supposed to be barefoot, but Trump wore slippers as he handed out the award. Some members of the Japanese media suggested that the ring would now have to be reconsecrated after Trump's presentation, according to the Washington Post.

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The Japenese nationals were abducted decades ago to serve as trainers for North Korean spies to become fluent in Japanese language and customs.

North Korea has admitted kidnapping 13 Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 80s and returned five to Japan in 2002, according to the BBC. The country has insisted the rest are dead, but Japan has not accepted that response.

Trump said in the press conference after this meeting that the families were "appreciative" of his visit and he intended to "do everything I can for the resolution of this issue," in the future.

Trump appeared to differ with his own advisors and Abe himself when he said he was "not bothered" by North Korea's missile tests earlier this month.

"My people think it could have been a violation, as you know," Trump said, noting that no nuclear or long-range missiles had been tested. "I view it differently."

Abe said he disagreed with Trump's view on North Korea's missile testing but added that he agreed with Trump on efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.

Trump said there has been a "tremendous imbalance" of trade between the US and Japan and that both countries are working to bridge the gap.

Despite the friendly disposition between the leaders, Trump stressed that the US was not pleased with its nearly $60 billion trade deficit towards Japan. Trump has threatened to impose higher tariffs on imports of Japanese auto parts unless the two nations can iron out the difference.

"There's been a tremendous imbalance and we're working on that," Trump said of trade between the two nations, adding that the US needed to "do a little catching up with Japan."

"They have been doing much more business with us, we'd like to do a little bit more business in the reverse, we'll get the balance of trade I think straightened out rapidly."

Trump also said he was open to improving US relations with Iran.

"I do believe that Iran would like to talk and if they'd like to talk, we'd like to talk also," newswire AFP reported him as saying. "Nobody wants to see terrible things happen, especially me."

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Trump met with the 59-year-old and his wife, Empress Masako, in the Imperial Palace in Tokyo following an elaborate procession in an outdoor welcome ceremony. The president and first lady walked down a red carpet past a Japanese honor guard and were excitedly greeted by crowds waving US and Japanese flags.

The emperor exchanged gifts with Trump, as is customary, handing the US president an item of traditional Japenese pottery, while Trump gave Naruhito an American-made viola. Both sides also swapped signed and framed photos of one another, according to the Washington Post.

"It's a very important thing, not only in Japan, but all over the world they're talking about it," Trump later said of his meeting with the emperor.

Read more: Here's everything you need to know about Emperor Naruhito, who has taken over the throne in Japan after the country's first abdication in 200 years