'We love you, Sanae': Andong students send warm messages to Japan's PM Takaichi

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has shared heartfelt handwritten messages she received from students at Pungsan High School in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, where she held shuttle diplomacy summit talks with President Lee Jae Myung last month.

Takaichi posted the messages on her social media account Tuesday, saying she had received them from students at Pungsan High School in Andong, which she visited for the South Korea-Japan summit. "Each and every student wrote their message in Japanese," she said.

She added that the students had also joined the traditional fire festival she attended with President Lee. "Every single message was written in beautiful handwriting with warm, touching content — I was deeply moved," she said.

Photos she posted showed messages from 26 students, each written by hand on leaf-shaped pieces of paper under the heading "We welcome the visit of Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae."

One student wrote: "Welcome, Prime Minister. I hope this meeting in Andong becomes a firm foundation for the future of South Korea and Japan."

Another wrote: "Just as the Nakdong River gently embraces Hahoe Village in all four seasons, I hope this meeting becomes an opportunity for harmony between South Korea and Japan."

Other messages expressed personal hopes — students wrote of wanting to study abroad in Japan, aspiring to become as accomplished a person as Takaichi, and wishing to visit Osaka — alongside warm welcomes and wishes for her to enjoy her time and make good memories.

Takaichi visited Andong on May 19-20 for summit talks with President Lee.

After dinner on May 19, the two leaders watched "Seonyu Julbulnori," Andong's signature traditional fire-rope festival, at the Hahoe Village ferry dock. A group of high school girls asked Takaichi for a photo, and she turned and walked over to pose for a selfie with them. Cheers erupted, and the students called out "Sanae, we love you!" toward the camera.

"I drew courage from the students' wish to see the South Korea-Japan relationship develop toward the future," Takaichi said. "I will continue to do my utmost so that our two countries can grow stronger and more prosperous together."

日 총리 “다음엔 지방 온천 도시에서”…李대통령 “가겠다고 하면 바로 추진되나” 화기애애

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