India and Japan are bound together by more than diplomacy. Their friendship rests on culture, spirituality and deep personal affection. That bond was on display in Mumbai on an emotional occasion, when Akie Abe, wife of late former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, called on Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Japan has long contributed to Maharashtra's rapid development, and this meeting once again showed the trusted relationship between the state and Japan under Fadnavis's leadership.
Shinzo Abe's affection for India, and especially for Maharashtra, is well known. The family's bond with India remains as fresh as ever after his death, and the meeting made that clear. Chief Minister Fadnavis welcomed Akie Abe with great respect and warmth.
“Indian worship and Japanese tradition have a remarkable similarity!”: Akie Abe During the meeting, Akie Abe shared with Chief Minister Fadnavis the moving experiences of her recent visit to Kashi and Varanasi. Calling Varanasi the most ancient, sacred and vibrant city in the world, she said:
“At a spiritual place near Kashi, I saw up close the Sanskrit chanting, the rituals of worship and the way offerings are made to the deity. At that moment I realised there is a striking similarity between India's ancient rituals and Japan's traditional religious practices. Both cultures connect nature, ancestors and the positive energy of the universe. This is not mere coincidence but a living proof of the thousand-year-old cultural and spiritual bond between India and Japan.”
Akie Abe's words left the whole atmosphere emotional. The Chief Minister warmly welcomed her praise for India's rich heritage.
Japan's strong faith in Chief Minister Fadnavis's leadership Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has consistently taken Maharashtra's industrial, technology and cultural ties with Japan to new heights. Whether it is the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train, metro projects or cooperation with JICA, relations have stayed in a golden phase during Fadnavis's tenure. Akie Abe's visit once again showed Japan's affection and respect for Maharashtra's leadership to the world.
A high-level Japanese delegation and the Chief Minister's Principal Secretary, Dr. Shrikar Pardeshi, were present at the emotional and warm meeting. Good wishes were expressed for the friendship between the two countries to keep growing.