The Japanese and South Korean heads of state and government had a diplomatic jam session. The Japanese Prime Minister’s Office shared the video showing the two leaders drumming to the beats of popular K-pop songs. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung appeared in the video wearing a blue track jacket with their names printed on it. After meeting in the Japanese Prime Minister’s hometown of Nara, the two performed a drumming session to tracks such as BTS’s Dynamite and K-Pop Demon Hunters’ Golden Globe-winning song Golden.Prime Minister Lee Jae Myung later reported in a post on Myung expressed his optimism about the relationship between the two nations, saying that the two leaders “shared harmony in our individual rhythms.”“It felt a little strange at first, but with each hit the sounds came together,” he wrote.He also expressed his long-held dream of playing drums and thanked Takaichi for the opportunity.“Playing drums has been a long-held dream of mine, so the time for the Prime Minister’s thoughtful reflection was even more precious. Thanks to the Prime Minister, we were able to share a special moment and exchange our true feelings through music.”Myung ended his statement on a musical note, writing, “Just as we respected each other’s differences and found our rhythm together, I hope that the two nations of Korea and Japan can deepen their cooperation and get one step closer with each passing moment.”Takaichi also took Myung on a tour of Horyu-ji Temple, an architectural site that is among the oldest surviving wooden architecture in the world and illustrates Japan’s adoption of Buddhism across the Korean Peninsula.South Korean President Lee Jae Myung was in Japan to meet Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for the Nara Summit on Tuesday. The meeting was held with the aim of improving sometimes tense relations as Tokyo faces a worsening dispute with China.
