Bengaluru, September 20 (Daily Kiran) : A delegation of Japanese lawmakers visited Bengaluru on September 19, 2026, as part of the India-Japan Visit Program. The group toured key institutions, including the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
The visit underscores the deepening collaboration between India and Japan and highlights future prospects for partnership. The Indian Embassy in Japan noted on social media that this initiative is crucial for the strategic global partnership, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence, technology, space, defense, and startups.
BEL also shared details of the visit, mentioning that the three-member parliamentary delegation was led by Taro Kono, a former foreign and defense minister of Japan. The visit was coordinated under the Ministry of External Affairs’ Distinguished Visitor Program.
The Japanese lawmakers included Taro Kono, Karen Makishima, Kenji Nakanishi, and Sako Yamamoto. The purpose of their visit is to provide these lawmakers with insights into India’s latest developments, offer firsthand experiences of local conditions, and facilitate direct interactions with relevant stakeholders.
This visit follows a recent trip by Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi to India, where he engaged in discussions with his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh. After their meeting, Koizumi expressed his commitment to transforming discussions into tangible outcomes.
Koizumi remarked, “When the meeting concluded, Defense Minister Singh placed his hand on my shoulder and expressed joy, stating, ‘This was a very fruitful meeting.’ We have been able to initiate a new beginning in accelerating Japan-India defense cooperation. Moving forward, I will make every effort to turn today’s discussions into concrete results.”
In a joint statement released after their meeting, both ministers emphasized the importance of sharing assessments of the regional and international security environment amid global tensions. They reaffirmed their commitment to deepening defense cooperation to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific, recalling a joint statement issued in July 2026. The ministers agreed to enhance operational cooperation in maritime security and signed a memorandum of understanding on maritime security collaboration.
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