Prime Minister Narendra Modi, currently on a two-day diplomatic trip to Japan, traveled aboard a high-speed Shinkansen bullet train to Sendai on Saturday, accompanied by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The visit marks the 15th edition of the annual India-Japan summit, aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.
Upon arriving in Sendai, Prime Minister Modi received a warm welcome from local residents who greeted him with chants of “Modi-San, Welcome!” The enthusiastic reception highlighted the growing goodwill between the two nations.
During his visit, PM Modi and his Japanese counterpart are engaging in high-level discussions to enhance cooperation in multiple sectors, including defense, trade, digital innovation, environmental sustainability, and investment. A series of agreements are also expected to be finalized as part of efforts to boost economic collaboration.
In a gesture of goodwill, Prime Minister Ishiba also met with Indian train drivers currently undergoing technical training with Japan Railways East (JR East). Photos of the meeting were shared by both leaders on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), where Modi captioned one post, “Arrived in Sendai.”
Ishiba also shared his own post, stating, “On the way to Sendai with Prime Minister Modi. Honored to have him in the carriage.” He further expressed appreciation for the Indian railway staff participating in JR East’s training initiatives.
Prime Minister Modi arrived in Tokyo on Friday and was officially welcomed by Prime Minister Ishiba during a ceremonial event at the Presidential Palace. This visit marks Modi’s eighth trip to Japan, underscoring the strategic importance India places on its relationship with Tokyo.
The two leaders have met several times in recent years, including at the ASEAN-India Summit in Vietnam in 2024 and the G7 Summit held in Canada earlier in 2025. After completing his engagements in Japan, PM Modi is scheduled to head to China to attend the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of State Council meeting.
