Japan’s South Korea Policy under Sanae Takaichi: From History to Strategy

President of the Republic of Korea (ROK), LEE Jae Myung and Prime Minister of Japan, Sanae Takaichi.
Source: Prime Minister’s Office of Japan

by Anupam Shukla

Japan’s policy towards South Korea has long been influenced by history. However, recent developments suggest that a shift is occurring – gradually and often imperceptibly, yet significantly. The relationship is no longer solely defined by past events; it is increasingly shaped by current challenges both nations face.

For decades, Japan–South Korea relations have been constrained by unresolved issues stemming from Japan’s colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula. Disputes over forced labour, wartime memory, and differing interpretations of past agreements have often strained diplomatic relations. These issues have not only shaped public sentiment but also constrained the policy space available to political leadership in both countries.

However, the regional security environment is changing in ways that are difficult to ignore. North Korea’s growing nuclear and missile capabilities remain a shared concern for both Japan and South Korea. This has prompted the two sides to coordinate more closely, even when political tensions make such cooperation uncomfortable. Intelligence sharing and trilateral engagement with the United States have therefore become more important in recent years.

China adds another layer to this picture. Its growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific has forced Japan to rethink parts of its regional strategy. Issues of maritime security, economic dependence, and influence are now more intertwined with daily diplomacy. Therefore, Japan’s engagement with South Korea is no longer only about historical disputes – it is also about managing present-day strategic pressures.

Japan–South Korea Trade (Values in USD Billions)

Year	Exports¹ ($B)	Imports² ($B)	Total Trade ($B)	Trend
2018	49	36	85	Stable ties
2019	46	29	75	Trade tensions
2020	44	26	70	COVID impact
2021	48	32	80	Recovery phase
2022	50	35	85	Improved engagement
2023	47	35	82	Stabilisation
2024*	46	34	80	Continued reliance

Note: Exports refer to Japan’s exports to South Korea; Imports refer to Japan’s imports from South Korea.

¹ Exports from Japan to South Korea.
² Imports by Japan from South Korea.
Source: Compiled by the author using data from the World Bank, IMF Direction of Trade Statistics, and OECD FDI statistics.

Recent developments reflect this shift. Earlier this month, South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung travelled to Nara, the hometown of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, for a bilateral summit. This was their third meeting, following earlier interactions on the sidelines of APEC in Gyeongju and the G20 summit. Unlike those occasions, the Nara meeting was not associated with a larger multilateral event. This in itself indicates a mutual willingness to sustain dialogue, even as the relationship remains complex.

While the leaders did not convene the summit to address an immediate crisis, its timing is significant. It took place against the backdrop of rising tensions between Japan and China, particularly following Takaichi’s remarks in the Japanese Diet identifying the Taiwan issue as a matter of national security. China’s response—including coercive economic measures such as restrictions on tourism and rare-earth exports—has added a new layer of complexity to regional dynamics.

South Korea’s stance is complex. President Lee has attempted to balance ties with both China and Japan, making it clear that relations with Tokyo matter just as much as those with Beijing. This reflects Seoul’s broader strategy of navigating competing geopolitical pressures without fully aligning with any one power.

In Japan, there are expectations for closer trilateral cooperation with South Korea and the United States, especially regarding North Korea and China. However, Seoul’s cautious approach has limitations. Meanwhile, a quiet competition is taking shape, with Japan and China both seeking to deepen their influence over South Korea – adding another layer of complexity to bilateral relations.

What stands out is not that tensions have disappeared – they clearly haven’t – but that both sides are finding ways to work around them when necessary.

Even with these areas of cooperation, historical and territorial disputes continue to create friction. South Korea recently lodged a formal protest after Japan approved new high school textbooks that reiterate Japan’s claims over the disputed Dokdo islets (known as Takeshima in Japan). Incidents like this demonstrate how questions of history and sovereignty remain deeply embedded in the relationship, resurfacing even as both sides try to strengthen strategic coordination.

Global developments further reinforce this shift. Instability in the Middle East has once again shown how closely global security and economic systems are linked, especially in energy and trade. Developments like these make strategic coordination more important, pushing countries toward a more pragmatic approach to their relationships.

Seen against this backdrop, Japan’s policy under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi places greater weight on strategic and security concerns in dealing with South Korea. Historical issues remain unresolved, but the emphasis is gradually shifting toward practical cooperation. This represents less a complete shift and more a steady recalibration in response to evolving geopolitical realities.

This evolving approach is best understood as a form of layered diplomacy, in which historical tensions continue to coexist alongside expanding areas of strategic cooperation. It allows Japan to pursue its security and regional goals without fully abandoning sensitive historical issues. It also reflects a simple but important reality—cooperation and conflict can coexist within the same relationship. How both countries manage this dynamic will shape Japan’s future policy toward South Korea. Sustaining cooperation will require careful political judgment, especially in navigating domestic sensitivities while maintaining focus on shared strategic interests.

In today’s uncertain environment, one thing is becoming clear: strategic necessity – rather than political goodwill alone – is reshaping a relationship long defined by history.

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Dr. Anupam Shukla holds an MPhil and PhD in International Studies from the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. Her research interests include Japan’s foreign policy, regional security dynamics, and contemporary geopolitical developments in Asia. She has a strong academic background in international relations with a focus on East Asian strategic affairs and regional political transformations.