May 22, 2026
TOKYO – Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi returned from a two-day visit to South Korea on Wednesday on a government flight, landing at Haneda Airport in Tokyo.
After a summit with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday, Takaichi gifted him a pair of eyeglass frames made in Sabae, Fukui Prefecture, a thriving center of eyewear manufacturing.
When Lee removed his eyeglasses to try on the frames, Takaichi borrowed them and they posed together for photos.
The visit was part of reciprocal visits by the Japanese and South Korean leaders to each other’s countries. The summit was held in Andong, South Korea, where Lee was born.
Lee gifted Takaichi a set of nine traditional masks, which are said to symbolize harmony.
According to the South Korean presidential office, the gift was intended to express a wish that relations between the countries will continue to warm. Andong’s mask dance drama has been designated by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.