PM Modi, Ishiba ride bullet train as India-Japan ties shift gear

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrapped up his two-day visit to Japan on August 30 with a symbolic ride on the famed bullet train alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba — a journey from Tokyo to Sendai that underscored the forward momentum in bilateral ties.

Earlier in Tokyo, Modi met governors of 16 Japanese prefectures, urging them to look beyond the capital-to-capital engagement and forge deeper partnerships with Indian states. He stressed that the State–Prefecture Partnership Initiative, launched during the 15th Annual India-Japan Summit, could serve as a new pillar of cooperation.

“There is immense scope to cooperate in areas like trade, innovation, entrepreneurship and more. Futuristic sectors like startups, tech and AI can also be beneficial,” Modi said in a post on X, after the meeting.

The Ministry of External Affairs described the interactions as “taking greater strides in steadfast India–Japan ties,” noting that discussions focused on collaborations in technology, investment, skills, SMEs and cultural exchanges.

In Sendai, Modi also met Indian loco pilots undergoing high-speed rail training, a reminder of Japan’s role in India’s upcoming bullet train project.

Highlighting India and Japan’s civilisational ties, Modi said the time had come to infuse fresh energy into state–prefecture engagement, urging both sides to blend Japanese technology with Indian talent and drive youth and skills exchange.

The governors, for their part, acknowledged that sub-national partnerships would be crucial in elevating business, education, cultural and people-to-people ties to the next level.