Overview
- President Lee presented Korean cosmetics and gim to Prime Minister Takaichi, a selection the presidential office said was inspired by her inaugural remark praising those products.
- Prime Minister Takaichi gifted Kamakura-made go stones and a go bowl, reflecting Kamakura’s sister-city ties with Lee’s hometown Andong and Lee’s known interest in the game.
- Lee voiced full sympathy with Takaichi’s future‑oriented message, recalled centuries of exchange, likened Gyeongju to Nara, and wished for greater happiness for both nations’ citizens during their respective terms.
- Seoul signaled it aims to keep relations on an improving track through early security contacts, noting Wei Seung‑rok’s visit to meet Japan’s national security chief Ichikawa Keiichi and LDP vice president Taro Aso soon after Takaichi took office.
- While Takaichi’s past Yasukuni visits had raised concern, her recent restraint and friendly remarks have eased some worries in South Korea, creating room for practical cooperation on security and economic issues.