Japan and South Korea are trying to reset relations as their leaders played K-pop on Pearl drum kits in Nara

 

Japan and South Korea are trying to reset relations as their leaders played K-pop on Pearl drum kits in Nara.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung played drums together on Tuesday after formal summit talks concluded.

The two leaders performed "Dynamite" by BTS and "Golden" from the Golden Globes-winning animated film "Kpop Demon Hunters" on matching Pearl drum kits manufactured in Japan.

Takaichi personally taught Lee how to play the drums during the session, according to the South Korean government.

The choice of K-pop songs was deliberate, signaling Japan's willingness to embrace South Korean cultural exports despite Takaichi's nationalist reputation.

Pearl drums are one of Japan's most successful musical instrument brands, adding a layer of Japanese pride to the diplomatic gesture.

Both governments framed the informal moment as a breakthrough after years of strained relations over historical disputes and trade tensions.

The drumming session was widely broadcast across Japanese and Korean media, designed to soften public skepticism toward closer cooperation.

Analysts say the symbolism matters as both nations face growing pressure from Chinese military expansion and uncertainty over US regional commitments.

Critics in South Korea questioned whether playing pop songs can address unresolved issues like wartime compensation and territorial claims.

Yet the image of a conservative Japanese prime minister teaching a South Korean president to play BTS represents a dramatic shift from years of canceled summits and cold shoulders.

Tokyo and Seoul are betting that cultural diplomacy can build momentum faster than traditional negotiations ever could.