Mewati Sitaram
Ambassador of Japan to India, Keiichi Ono, met with Maharashtra Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, underscoring the importance of deepening Indo-Japanese ties across cultural, academic, and economic domains.
Marking his third visit to Mumbai, Ambassador Ono highlighted the spiritual kinship between the two nations, rooted in shared Buddhist heritage. He emphasized the value of people-to-people connections and announced the upcoming Indo-Japanese Academic Conference in Hyderabad, aimed at strengthening university-level collaborations.
Expressing concern over the limited number of Indian students in Japan, Ono reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to promoting academic exchanges and Japanese language programmes. He also expressed interest in expanding cooperation in IT, tourism, and skill development sectors.
Welcoming the envoy, Governor Radhakrishnan praised Japan for its discipline, cultural richness, and technological prowess. He called for strengthening bilateral trade, particularly encouraging Japanese MSMEs to explore investment opportunities in Maharashtra in sectors like consumables, textiles, and gems and jewellery.
In a significant educational announcement, the Governor revealed that the University of Mumbai would soon introduce a Japanese language programme accessible to students from other institutions. Stressing the importance of language familiarity, he proposed joint academic and agricultural exchanges, citing Japan’s expertise in mushroom cultivation as beneficial for rural Maharashtra.
Tourism and cultural ties also featured prominently in the discussion. The Governor proposed launching direct flights between Mumbai and Tokyo with the opening of the Navi Mumbai International Airport. He also suggested cultural festivals, Buddhist religious circuits, and more Japanese culinary presence in Indian cities.
Ambassador Ono welcomed the ideas, noting Japan’s rising interest in Indian films and cuisine. The meeting was attended by senior Japanese diplomats including Yagi Koji, Consul General in Mumbai; and representatives from the Embassy of Japan in India.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
