Tokyo, May 29: The President of the Wakayama Prefectural Assembly’s Japan-India Friendship Promotion Group met with India’s Ambassador to Japan, Nagama Malik, at the Indian Embassy in Tokyo on Thursday. The discussion focused on enhancing people-to-people connections between Wakayama and India through tourism and cultural exchanges.
Following the meeting, the Indian Embassy shared on social media, “Ambassador Nagama M. Malik was pleased to welcome Mr. Takashi Nijima, President of the Wakayama Prefectural Assembly’s Japan-India Friendship Promotion Group.”
The conversation centered on fostering relationships between the two regions through tourism and cultural initiatives. In February, Takashi Nijima visited India alongside Wakayama Prefecture Governor Izumi Miyazaki. During this trip, Governor Miyazaki also met with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai.
Japan and India share a deep and sustainable partnership, particularly between Maharashtra and Wakayama. The sister-state relationship between Wakayama and Maharashtra began in 2013 and has flourished over the past decade.
Chief Minister Fadnavis remarked in February, “It is essential that the relationship between Maharashtra and Wakayama continues to serve as a foundation for India-Japan friendship. Collaboration with Japan has promoted transformative infrastructure in Maharashtra, including the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Bridge, a vast underground metro network, and the upcoming bullet train. Our discussions focused on advancing this reliable partnership into the next phase, opening new avenues for cooperation in strategic sectors.”
He also proposed a landmark project to create a replica of the Bamiyan Buddha in Nagpur, aimed at spreading a global message of peace from the very soil where Dr. B.R. Ambedkar embraced Buddhism.
Vice President of the Wakayama Prefectural Assembly, Akizuki Fuminari, and Takashi Nijima were also present during the meeting.
According to the Indian Consulate General in Osaka-Kobe, Uttar Pradesh’s Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna met with Speaker Hirohiko Iwata of the Wakayama Prefectural Assembly and Takashi Nijima in July 2025 to discuss strengthening cultural and people-to-people ties.
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