Mina-san Kon'nichiwa': UP CM Yogi Adityanath speaks in Japanese as govt signs MoUs with Yamanashi governor

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday opened his address in Japanese during the signing of memorandum of understandings (MOUs) with Japan's Yamanashi Prefecture.

The ceremony was held in Lucknow and was attended by Kotaro Nagasaki, governor of Yamanashi, who led the Japanese delegation.



The MoUs aim at strengthening economic and cultural cooperation between Uttar Pradesh and Yamanashi, symbolising a deepening partnership between the two nations.

Addressing the event, Adityanath highlighted the strong economic ties between India and Japan. “India and Japan are countries with big economies. The state government is keen to cooperate with Japanese companies. Uttar Pradesh is a state of unlimited potential. After this MoU, relations between India and Japan are going to gain new strength,” he said.

The partnership reflects the broader "Special Strategic and Global Partnership" shared by India and Japan, a relationship rooted in centuries of cultural and spiritual connections. This bond dates back to 752 AD when Indian monk Bodhisena consecrated the iconic Buddha statue at Todaiji Temple in Nara, Japan, said the chief minister.

Over the years, prominent Indian figures such as Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore, and Subhash Chandra Bose have played key roles in strengthening India-Japan relations, he added.

In recent times, economic and academic exchanges have played a role in consolidating the friendship between the two nations "The growing Indian community in Japan, particularly in IT and engineering sectors, brings out the close ties between the two nations. The Nishikasai area in Tokyo, often referred to as "mini-India," is home to over 40,000 Indians."

Japan also hosts over 150 Indian professors, 50 research visa holders, and around 282 Indian students pursuing advanced degrees, fostering cultural and academic collaboration.