Takaichi praises President Lee as a “leader who shares a common sense of challenges”

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed a positive assessment of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung following their recent bilateral summit, noting that the two leaders share a “mutual understanding of key issues” and can move forward in strengthening cooperation.

According to Japan’s Kyodo News, Takaichi attended a session of the House of Representatives Budget Committee on the 7th, where she said that her talks with President Lee during the APEC meetings in Gyeongju confirmed that the two countries “share a common sense of the challenges that lie ahead.”

The meeting, held on November 30 in Gyeongju, marked the first summit between the two leaders since Takaichi took office. The prime minister emphasized that Seoul and Tokyo reaffirmed the importance of improving bilateral relations and enhancing trilateral cooperation with the United States.

“We agreed on the need to restore shuttle diplomacy and maintain close governmental communication,” she stated.

Takaichi also shared impressions from recent diplomatic engagements with major world leaders.

She described former U.S. President Donald Trump, whom she met on November 28, as “very cheerful with a strong sense of humor,” while characterizing Chinese President Xi Jinping, whom she met on November 31, as “a very serious and thoughtful leader.”

Her appearance at the Budget Committee was notable, with Japanese media reporting that she entered the prime minister’s residence at around 3 a.m. to review briefing materials and responses with her staff. Kyodo noted that while early-morning preparation is not uncommon for Japanese leaders, starting a full meeting at 3 a.m. was “highly unusual,” reflecting Takaichi’s intense and hands-on governing style.

Since taking office in early November, Takaichi has drawn attention for her declaration that she intends to “discard the idea of work-life balance” and pursue a leadership approach centered on “working, working, and working more” to accelerate the nation’s economic and political reform goals.

The latest remarks suggest that the Japanese government views cooperation with South Korea as a strategic priority, and that the two countries may continue expanding diplomatic coordination in the near term.