Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Japan and South Korea signaled warming ties as Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met in Japan’s ancient capital of Nara on Jan. 13.

Displaying a rare moment of harmony in diplomacy, the two leaders surprised observers by sitting at drum kits and playing along to popular songs from the Golden Globe-winning hit movie "KPop Demon Hunters" and by superstar South Korean boy band BTS.

The summit served as an obvious metaphor for the ongoing rapprochement in relations between Seoul and Tokyo, which is taking place at a time of growing volatility around the world.

Click here to read about the full events of the summit this week: https://s.nikkei.com/4qV87Om

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