Japanese artists are preparing special cultural performances to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrives in Tokyo on Friday for the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit.
One artist, who has been learning Hindi since 2020, said, “I will welcome Prime Minister Modi in Hindi with my students by singing ‘Padharo Mhare Des.’”
Another performer, a practitioner of Kutiyattam—the traditional Sanskrit theatre form from Kerala—shared, “I have been practising Kutiyattam for over 30 years. We are here to welcome PM Modi.”
PM Modi begins his two-day official visit to Japan from August 29–30, at the invitation of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The summit agenda includes strengthening bilateral ties, reviewing progress across multiple sectors, and holding discussions on regional and global issues of shared importance.
The leaders are also expected to announce new initiatives to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, technology, and cultural exchanges. As part of the programme, Modi and Ishiba will also travel outside Tokyo for a joint engagement.
The visit will feature PM Modi’s meetings with Japanese political leaders, interactions with Friends of India in Japan, and participation in a business leaders’ forum aimed at deepening economic and technological collaboration.
This marks Modi’s first standalone trip to Japan in nearly seven years, and his first annual summit with Prime Minister Ishiba. Following the Japan visit, he will depart for Tianjin, China, from August 31 to September 1 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.
