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

NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday smilingly opened his address in Japanese during the signing of memorandum of understandings (MOUs) with Japan's Yamanashi Prefecture.
The ceremony held in Lucknow, was attended by Kotaro Nagasaki, governor of Yamanashi, who led the Japanese delegation.
The MoUs aim to strengthen economic and cultural cooperation between Uttar Pradesh and Yamanashi, symbolising a deepening partnership between the two nations.

Addressing at the event, CM Yogi pointed out the robust 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.
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.
In modern times, economic and academic exchanges have further enriched this partnership. 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.