Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ongoing visit to Japan entered a high point on Saturday when he boarded a bullet train with his Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba, heading towards Sendai. The ride became a symbol of growing India–Japan cooperation in technology, connectivity, and people-to-people ties.
Before the journey, Modi interacted with a group of Indian train drivers currently undergoing specialised training with the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). The trainees greeted the Prime Minister and posed for photographs, showcasing the expanding opportunities for Indian professionals in Japan’s advanced railway sector.
Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba also shared glimpses of the journey on social media, posting pictures with Modi and noting his pleasure at continuing their engagement during the ride to Sendai.
Earlier in the day, Modi held an important round of discussions in Tokyo with governors from sixteen Japanese prefectures. The meeting was part of the State-Prefecture Partnership Initiative, launched during the 15th Annual India–Japan Summit. Modi emphasised that direct cooperation between Indian states and Japanese prefectures could unlock new avenues of growth in trade, investment, and cultural exchange.
“State-prefecture cooperation is not just institutional—it is a vital pillar of India-Japan friendship,” Modi said, pointing out vast potential in innovation, entrepreneurship, technology, and futuristic areas like artificial intelligence and startups.
