Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Face Criticism Over Post-Summit Dinner

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. drew criticism after a post-summit dinner in Japan that included a live band playing songs such as “Hey Jude” and “Wonderful Tonight.”

“Screenshot from a video uploaded on X by the official account of the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office about the dinner of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr”

@globaltimesnews

Global Times described how, according to a post by @PressSec_JP, when “Hey Jude” began playing, Takaichi started singing and Marcos joined her, while the video showed Takaichi singing and raising two fingers above her head.

@globaltimesnews

During the dinner, Takaichi told Marcos, “Mr President, perhaps I should introduce you to a talent agency.”

Global Times said the moment sparked controversy among Japanese netizens, with some praising it as a reflection of the “bond” between Japan and the Philippines while others criticized it for trivializing diplomacy and diverting attention from the summit’s substantive agenda.

Global Times reported that netizen @KNHjyohokyoku criticized Takaichi’s diplomatic style as “flashy, outlandish and restless,” adding that drinking together and having a good time did not necessarily mean the other side trusted her.

In the same account, netizen @oyamada_maki posted a comic-style image depicting Takaichi’s actions and wrote: “Does ‘Japan’s diplomacy blooming at the center of the world’ mean, perhaps, dancing like a drunk at a dinner party? To me, it only looks like ‘Japan’s embarrassing diplomacy, left behind by the world.’”

Global Times

Global Times also quoted X user @natsumiccann saying, “I woke up in the middle of the night, saw some country’s prime minister acting rowdy like a drunkard in front of Philippine President Marcos, and felt a headache coming on… I sincerely hope this vulgar diplomacy — or rather, harmful diplomacy — will stop as soon as possible.”

The Global Times account further said Lü Chao, a research fellow at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told the outlet that Takaichi’s conduct often appeared casual and improvised and that the effect had “backfired,” with many in Japan viewing it as undignified, discourteous and damaging to the country’s image.

Beyond the dinner controversy, Japan’s official accounts described the May 28 summit meeting as beginning at 5:50 p.m. and lasting for approximately 60 minutes between Prime Minister TAKAICHI Sanae and President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr. at the State Guest House, Akasaka Palace.

“On May 28, commencing at 5:50 p”

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the two leaders issued a joint statement outlining future cooperation as “Comprehensive Strategic Partners,” and decided to elevate bilateral relations to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the first of its kind for the Philippines.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said the leaders witnessed the signing of the New Tax Convention between Japan and the Republic of the Philippines and that the two governments reached agreement on and signed documents including a Memorandum of Cooperation on Water Resources Management and a Memorandum of Cooperation on Personal Information Protection.

VOI.ID, meanwhile, framed Marcos’s visit as scheduled to meet Takaichi on Thursday (28/5) in the agenda of a state visit coinciding with the 70th anniversary of Japan-Philippines bilateral relations, and said Marcos would meet Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako and deliver a speech in front of the Japanese parliament during the four-day visit from Tuesday (26/5) to Friday (29/5).