Japanese boy's impressive welcome speech in Hindi floors PM Modi. Watch video

Language is what connects one to their land. It fosters notions of pride in the speakers and holds together people for generations. And, it is even more endearing to see appreciation for your language in the remotest corners of the world. Perhaps, it was this feeling that delighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday morning.

PM Modi was welcomed by the Indian diaspora and Japanese citizens upon his arrival. Children were seen with placards in different languages to welcome him. The Prime Minister was later seen interacting with children. To his surprise, one of the children from the crowd came forward to welcome him in Hindi.

"Welcome to Japan! May I have your signature please?” Ritsuki Kobayashi asked the Prime Minister in Hindi. Impressed by the boy’s gesture, PM Modi praised the boy’s fluency in Hindi and asked where he learnt it.


"Waah! Where did you learn Hindi from?... You know it pretty well?" PM Modi was quoted as saying by ANI.
The Grade 5 student from Global Indian International School was overjoyed with the PM’s response. "He read my message which I wrote on the paper so am very happy. I also got his signature,” said Ritsuki.

When asked if he could speak Hindi, Ritsuki responded by saying that he could not speak much but he understood well.

Prime Minister Modi seems to have a huge fan base among children as he is often seen being greeted by children on his foreign visits. Earlier this month, a viral video of him singing a patriotic song with a young boy in Germany went viral. The video soon surfaced on Twitter and other social media platforms with many celebrities joining to praise the PM for his little act of kindness.