President Lee Jae Myung visited Japan for a summit with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, emphasizing cultural ties during a tour of Horyuji Temple in Nara. The leaders shared an impromptu drum performance and exchanged gifts symbolizing friendship.
President Lee Jae Myung's two-day visit to Japan from January 13 to 14, 2026, symbolized efforts to strengthen South Korea-Japan ties. On the first day, the leaders held summit talks seeking deeper bilateral relations. Afterward, they staged an impromptu drum performance to K-pop songs and exchanged signed drumsticks.
Considering Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's past as a heavy metal drummer, Lee gifted her a drum set made by the Korean brand Markers and a pair of drums crafted by a Korean lacquerware artisan. He also presented red ginseng products and pills and powder from cheonggukjang, a fermented soybean paste akin to Japan's natto. For Takaichi's husband, Lee prepared a traditional Korean bronzeware set and Samsung's Galaxy Watch Ultra. Cheong Wa Dae said the bronzeware wished the couple good health, while the smartwatch aided health management.
In return, Takaichi gave Lee a Casio wristwatch with solar charging and biomass plastic, reflecting his hiking fondness. She presented first lady Kim Hea Kyung with cosmetic brushes and a pouch from Akashiya, a Nara-based calligraphy brush maker.
On the second day, the leaders visited Horyuji Temple in Nara, displaying cordial interactions. During their handshake, Lee expressed concern over Takaichi's cold hands and asked if she had visited the temple on childhood school trips, given her Nara upbringing. Takaichi gently held Lee's arm to warn of a step and noted he wore the same sneakers as the previous day. The temple, Japan's first UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993, features the world's oldest surviving wooden structures and influences from Korea's ancient Baekje and Goguryeo kingdoms.
This marked the first time in 15 years a South Korean president held bilateral talks outside Tokyo. It was Lee's fifth summit with a Japanese prime minister since taking office in June 2025 and his second with Takaichi since her October inauguration.
