South Korea’s Lee And Japan’s Takaichi Play Drums After Nara Summit

NARA (Japan), Jan 14  (Bernama-Yonhap) – South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi played drums together and exchanged drumsticks after their summit in Japan on Tuesday, Cheong Wa Dae said.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the two leaders shared the light-hearted moment after their talks in Nara, Takaichi’s hometown and constituency, marking the first time in 15 years that a South Korean president has visited a Japanese city outside Tokyo for a bilateral summit.

During the informal talks, the leaders sat at a drum set made by Japanese manufacturer Pearl and performed “Golden” from the Netflix series “KPop Demon Hunters” as well as K-pop group BTS’ hit song “Dynamite”, presidential spokesperson Kim Nam-joon said in a written briefing.

After the performance, Lee told Takaichi: “I fulfilled a lifelong dream today. Ever since I was young, I have wanted to play the drums.”

Takaichi, who is known to have played heavy metal drums in college, guided Lee through the performance, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere, according to Kim.

The two leaders wore blue uniforms prepared by the Japanese side, bearing their names in English and their national flags, symbolising friendship and mutual respect.

Takaichi also presented Lee with a pair of drumsticks, which the two leaders signed and exchanged.

“The event was specially arranged by the Japanese side to symbolically showcase the rapport and closeness between the two leaders,” Kim said. “It turned the informal talks into a unique moment of cultural exchange.”

-- BERNAMA-YONHAP