Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro met with Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek in Seoul, South Korea on the 28th during his visit. This is the first bilateral-purpose visit to South Korea by a Japanese defense minister in 11 years since 2015. The two had agreed at their meeting in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture in January of this year to institutionalize mutual visits and regular defense minister talks, making the mutual ministerial exchange within the calendar year the first in a full 23 years. At the meeting, both ministers agreed to further develop stable and future-oriented Japan-Korea defense cooperation and exchanges.
Nぶりとなる= it is the first time in N [period]; marks the return of something after an intervalVており= having done ~; a formal connective indicating a prior action that provides background for the following clauseVことで一致した= agreed on doing ~; reached consensus on the course of action
At the meeting, the two held close exchanges of views on the regional security environment. Regarding the incident on the previous day, the 27th, in which military aircraft from China and Russia conducted a joint flight over the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan, Minister Koizumi strongly criticized it, stating he "cannot help but regard it as a show of force directed at our country," and the two shared concerns about the cooperation between those two nations. They also reaffirmed their intention to pursue the "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula" in response to North Korea's nuclear and missile development. Furthermore, taking into account the revision of the operational guidelines for Japan's "Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology," discussions were also held on promoting defense equipment and technology cooperation.
Vざるを得ない= cannot help but V; have no choice but to V — strong compulsion or inevitabilityNを踏まえ= based on N; taking N into account — used to indicate that a decision or action reflects prior circumstances〜についても議論が行われた= discussions were also held regarding ~; passive construction commonly used in formal reporting
After the formal talks, the two engaged in a friendly table tennis exchange referred to as "ping-pong diplomacy." This was the second such event, following the Yokosuka meeting in January of this year, and featured doubles matches played by student pairs from both Japan and South Korea alongside the defense ministers. Minister Koizumi tenaciously returned shots, and Minister Ahn finished them with powerful smashes — a well-coordinated teamwork that delighted the crowd. Speaking to reporters, Koizumi looked back and said, "The finale was Minister Ahn brilliantly finishing with a smash the ball I had barely managed to keep in play," and expressed hope for a strong Japan-Korea relationship ahead, saying, "Our rally will continue, strengthening the bonds of trust between us."
〜と称される= to be called/referred to as ~; a passive form used when citing an established label or nicknameNに続き= following N; continuing from N — marks a sequential or recurring eventかろうじてV= barely V; just manage to V — implies the action was accomplished with great difficulty or at the last moment
Learning Notes
Grammar Patterns
Pattern
Meaning
Nぶりとなる
it is the first time in N [period]; marks the return of something after an interval
Vており
having done ~; a formal connective indicating a prior action that provides background for the following clause
Vことで一致した
agreed on doing ~; reached consensus on the course of action
Vざるを得ない
cannot help but V; have no choice but to V — strong compulsion or inevitability
Nを踏まえ
based on N; taking N into account — used to indicate that a decision or action reflects prior circumstances
〜についても議論が行われた
discussions were also held regarding ~; passive construction commonly used in formal reporting
〜と称される
to be called/referred to as ~; a passive form used when citing an established label or nickname
Nに続き
following N; continuing from N — marks a sequential or recurring event
かろうじてV
barely V; just manage to V — implies the action was accomplished with great difficulty or at the last moment
Vocabulary
Word
Reading
Level
Meaning
卓球
たっきゅう
N3
table tennis; ping-pong
防衛相
ぼうえいしょう
N1
Minister of Defense
定例化
ていれいか
N1
regularization; institutionalization of a recurring practice
安全保障
あんぜんほしょう
N1
national security; security guarantee
示威行動
じいこうどう
N1
show of force; demonstration of military power
非核化
ひかくか
N1
denuclearization
信頼関係
しんらいかんけい
N1
relationship of trust; bond of trust
Language Insights
•"Ping-pong diplomacy" (ピンポン外交) originally referred to the use of table tennis matches to ease US-China tensions in 1971. Japan and Korea are deliberately invoking this term, framing their sports exchange as a diplomatic signal of reconciliation.
•The phrase 〜年ぶり (N-nen-buri) is a fixed pattern in Japanese news meaning "the first time in N years." It always implies that something previously interrupted has resumed, carrying an implicit sense of significance.
•「捉えざるを得ない」 is a formal, written-register phrase. In spoken or casual Japanese, you would more likely hear 「そう思わざるを得ない」 or simply 「そう思う」. The ざるを得ない pattern is common in political and legal contexts.
•The Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology (防衛装備移転三原則) replaced Japan's long-standing arms export ban in 2014, and revisions to its operational guidelines have been a significant policy shift allowing Japan to export to more partners.
•Koizumi's closing remark — "our rally will continue" (ラリーは続いていく) — uses the table tennis word ラリー (rally/exchange) as a metaphor for diplomatic dialogue, a deliberate pun that tied the sports event to the political message.