'Youth Can Build Stronger India-Japan Ties': CM Yogi Adityanath Hosts Japanese Students In Lucknow

Lucknow, August 21, 2026: Chief Minister’s residence on Friday witnessed a heartwarming interaction where the formality of diplomacy gave way to children’s smiles, linguistic barriers gave way to dialogue and a natural bridge of friendship emerged between the cultures of two nations.

As part of Uttar Pradesh-Japan Investment Meeting, a special programme, ‘A Dialogue with the Future’, brought together 13 students and faculty members from Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture with students from various schools in Lucknow. In the presence of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki, the interaction offered a glimpse of the future of India-Japan relations, one whose foundations are being laid in the hearts and minds of today’s young generation.

Welcoming the students and faculty members from Yamanashi as well as their young counterparts from Lucknow, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath began his address with the Japanese greeting, ‘Ohayo gozaimasu’, a polite Japanese phrase that means 'Good Morning'.

India-Japan Student Exchange

CM said, "Lucknow is the capital of Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state with a population of more than 25 crore. The state is a major centre of India’s spiritual and cultural consciousness and can also be viewed as the 'Heartland of India.'

He said Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama, is located in the Awadh region where the interaction took place. Japanese students had already visited the Taj Mahal in Agra, and Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna, is also nearby. They would also have the opportunity to visit Varanasi and Sarnath. Sarnath is the sacred place where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment, while Varanasi is one of the world’s oldest living cities. Thus, for the students from Japan, their journey through Uttar Pradesh is also an opportunity to experience India’s spirituality, culture, and civilisational heritage up close.

Chief Minister said, “This is not merely a meeting of students. It is a meeting of two cultures, two traditions and the young generations of two countries.” He noted that next year will mark 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Japan. At such a time, students from both countries have the potential to become future ambassadors who can take this relationship to new heights.

He said that on one side were children from Uttar Pradesh, home to India’s largest young workforce and on the other were Japanese children known for their technological excellence, traditions and commitment. “One child comes from a village in Lucknow and another from a village in Japan. One speaks Hindi and the other Japanese, but the greatest similarity between them is that both are writing the story of their future”, he said.

Shared Cultural Values

Chief Minister said, "This visit provided Japanese students an opportunity to understand India’s unity in diversity, philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, Indian languages, philosophy, festivals and the rich cultural heritage of Uttar Pradesh. He said one of the major achievements of the dialogue would be for Japan’s younger generation to see India not merely as a market but as a civilisational partner and friend.

At the same time, Indian students have the opportunity to learn about Japan’s work culture, life philosophy, discipline, ‘Ikigai’, teamwork, mutual respect, cleanliness, punctuality, traditional arts and festivals. He said the greatest strength of exchange programme is that both countries can learn from each other and share their best practices.

During the interaction, Chief Minister highlighted the beautiful convergence between Japan’s philosophy of social harmony and India’s idea of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. He quoted the Sanskrit verse:

“Ayam Nijah Paro Veti, Ganana Laghu-Chetasam;
Udar-Charitanam Tu, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.”

He explained that the distinction between “one’s own” and “another” is a narrow-minded approach, while for people of broad and generous character, entire world is one family. He said the same spirit is reflected in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas’.

Chief Minister said Japan’s strengths lie in self-discipline, precision, quality, teamwork and innovation, while India’s strengths include its young population, talent, diversity, creativity and spirit of inclusiveness. When the strengths of Japan and India come together, he said, the benefits would extend beyond the children of the two countries and open new possibilities globally.

He told the students that they are students today, but in the coming years, many among them could become scientists, technology experts, artists, sports champions, policymakers and global leaders.

Students Build Friendship

CM urged the students to not only learn each other’s languages but also understand each other’s emotions, cultures, values and ways of life. He said, "The strongest relationships are built between classrooms, campuses, laboratories and young minds. These children of today will become the most influential ambassadors of the India-Japan partnership tomorrow". He concluded his address with ‘Arigato gozaimasu’ in Japanese, which means 'Thank you very much.'

Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki expressed his gratitude to CM Yogi Adityanath for giving students from both countries the opportunity to interact. He also thanked the students of Lucknow for warmly welcoming their Japanese counterparts.

Governor said that to build stronger ties between the two countries, it was first important to understand both their similarities and differences. He referred to India’s philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and the Yamanashi perspective of enriching one another while ensuring shared prosperity.

Governor Nagasaki said the meeting should not remain a one-day event. He urged the students to continue their friendships with their Indian and Japanese counterparts and transform these bonds into lasting relationships. He said the greatest hope of the dialogue was that both countries would prosper together and that younger generation would take the relationship forward.

Music And Cultural Exchange

Following the addresses by CM and Governor, the interaction became even more informal and warm. Japanese students came together to perform a song in their native language. Their collective performance was greeted with enthusiastic applause at CM’s residence.

Representing India, student Ishan captivated the audience with ‘Kaushalya Dashrath Ke Nandan...’, a devotional song dedicated to Lord Rama. A Japanese song and an Indian devotional performance, presented in two different languages, conveyed a common message: cultures may be different, but music and emotions have the power to connect hearts.

Lucknow student Akshara Pandey welcomed the Japanese students and said it was wonderful to see them in Lucknow. She said she was happy that the Japanese students enjoyed visiting the Taj Mahal. Recalling her childhood, she said Indian children had grown up watching 'Doraemon'. She added that Indian culture considers a guest to be equivalent to God and therefore the students from Japan were not merely guests but were regarded as their own. She welcomed them by saying ‘Arigato’ in Japanese.

Japanese Students Share Experiences

Japanese students also spoke candidly about their experiences. Japanese student Kazama said, “Coming to India is a very special experience for me because this is the first time I have travelled outside my country. The friendly way people have treated us here has touched my heart. Seeing so many motorcycles and cars on Indian roads was completely new for me. I don't experience this often in Tokyo. I got the opportunity to see the Taj Mahal and its beautiful marble and grandeur impressed me greatly. We are all high-school students and I want us to become a bridge of friendship and understanding between India and Japan. I will always remember the experience I had here today.”

Japanese student Miyagi Moto said, “It is very special for me to have the opportunity to share my thoughts in front of so many people. I have participated in similar interaction programme with students from different countries before, but the experience of India is unique. I live in Yamanashi and I believe it is very important to understand different cultures and respect each other’s traditions. Visiting the Taj Mahal in India was an amazing experience for me. I also wore a 'Bindi' for the first time and really liked it. We travelled here as a group of students, and all of us want to make the memories and experiences from this journey a part of our future. I am very excited to play my part in taking India-Japan friendship forward.”

Another Japanese student said that they pray for peace and friendship. Students also expressed their emotions through the art of origami. They presented CM with beautifully crafted origami creations carrying a message of peace and friendship. The small handmade gifts symbolised a much larger aspiration: hope for peace, friendship, and shared progress among the young generations of the two countries.

A Lasting Friendship

Amid the warm and informal atmosphere, CM Yogi Adityanath also took selfies with Japanese students and children from Lucknow. Students were visibly excited to have their photo taken with the CM. Their smiles and enthusiasm transformed the moment into a cherished memory that both Indian and Japanese students are likely to carry with them for years to come.

Friday’s programme at CM’s residence ultimately went far beyond investment and economic partnership to become a celebration of human connections. Thirteen Japanese students met their counterparts from Uttar Pradesh, performed a song in their own language, conveyed a message of peace and friendship through origami and prepared to take their experiences of India back home. Indian students, meanwhile, had the opportunity to understand Japanese culture more closely and share glimpses of their own traditions.

On one side were children from Yamanashi; on the other were children from Lucknow. Their languages were different and their cultures were different, but their dreams for the future were same. That was the defining image of ‘A Dialogue with the Future’, a friendship forged today laying the foundation for a stronger India-Japan partnership tomorrow.