In Nara, Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae‑myung traded suits for tracksuits and performed K‑pop hits — including BTS’s “Dynamite” and “Golden” from Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters — on Pearl drum kits in an impromptu display of cultural diplomacy. The meeting, their third since Takaichi became prime minister in October 2025, combined the musical moment with talks on supply chains, AI, denuclearization and trilateral cooperation with the US. The leaders also exchanged engraved, lacquered and tech gifts, underscoring a thaw in relations and a pragmatic push for closer ties.
Drumstick Diplomacy: Japan’s PM and South Korea’s President Bond Over K‑Pop Drum Session
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (left) and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (right) smash out some K-pop hits after their talks in Nara, central Japan on January 13, 2026. - AP
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae‑myung surprised onlookers during their talks in Nara by trading formal suits for matching blue tracksuits and performing K‑pop hits together on six‑piece Pearl drum kits. The upbeat, unconventional display — dubbed “drumstick diplomacy” — included BTS’s “Dynamite” and “Golden,” the latter from Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters and recently awarded Best Original Song at the Golden Globes.
Music, Gifts and a Shared Message
The spontaneous session was arranged by Takaichi after Lee mentioned at last year’s APEC summit that drumming had long been a personal dream. “I achieved my lifelong dream today. Playing the drum has been my dream since I was a child,” Lee told Takaichi, according to the South Korean government. He later acknowledged the challenge of keeping the tempo but said he hoped the two nations could “tune to each other’s rhythm.”
“Not easy to keep up with the beats,” Lee said, adding that the moment was symbolic of mutual respect and closer ties.
The light‑hearted exchange also included a ceremonial gift swap. Takaichi presented Lee with a pair of drumsticks engraved with his name. Lee returned several thoughtful gifts: lacquer‑embellished drumsticks, a drum kit from Korean maker Markers, a handcrafted lacquered tableware set for Takaichi’s husband (inspired by his promise to cook when he proposed), and a Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra to help him monitor his health.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, left, and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung pose for photographs as they visit the Western Precinct or Saiin Garan, at the Horyuji Temple in Ikaruga. (Franck Robichon/Pool Photo via AP) - Franck Robichon/Pool/AP
Political Context
The meeting in Nara was the third between the two leaders since Takaichi became Japan’s first female prime minister in October 2025. Their talks covered a broad agenda including industrial supply chains, artificial intelligence, denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and trilateral cooperation with the United States. In a joint statement, Lee emphasized the importance of Korea‑Japan and Korea‑US‑Japan cooperation for regional peace and stability amid rapid global change.
Relations between Tokyo and Seoul have warmed in recent years as both governments prioritize economic and security cooperation alongside efforts to manage historical tensions stemming from Japan’s colonial rule of Korea. Since taking office in June 2025, Lee has struck a pragmatic tone and described Japan as “an indispensable partner.”
Diplomatic Flair
Lee has gained a reputation for thoughtful, culturally resonant gifts: past presents included a replica Silla‑era gold crown for a visiting leader and a wooden Go board for another. This latest exchange underscored how soft power — music, craft and personal connection — can complement formal diplomacy.
Why it matters: The drum session illustrated a lighter, human side of high‑level diplomacy while reinforcing ongoing cooperation on security, technology and trade between two of East Asia’s largest economies.
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