Talking about the special relationship between India and Japan and the growing people-to-people ties, Japanese Ambassador Ono Keiichi added, “The relationship between India and Japan is very special
From trying ladoos and making rangoli to posing with the Embassy staff, Japanese Ambassador Ono Keiichi joined his colleagues in celebrating Diwali in the city, embracing the festival of lights. Japanese Ambassador Ono Keiichi
In Japan, when you turn 60, you wear a red vest. Dressed in an embroidered Indian ensemble, the Japanese Ambassador revealed that while he does not usually wear traditional Indian attire, he decided to make an exception for the special occasion.
Lantern Matsuri is a festival of lanterns in Japan that has commonalities with the festival,” he told us, talking about his Diwali plans and the cultural similarities between the two countries. “It is a special occasion filled with joy and a sense of togetherness, so I wanted to celebrate Diwali with my colleagues and friends at the Embassy. It is a very special event and, even before Diwali, I have been invited to many Diwali parties. There are also some commonalities with Japanese traditions, as we too celebrate with lights and lanterns. I am very happy to find these similarities between Japanese and Indian festivals. “This was gifted to me by a Japanese friend in Delhi on my 60th birthday. This is not exactly a vest, but since I live in Delhi and my friends also live here, they gifted this to me,” he shared. Talking about the special relationship between India and Japan and the growing people-to-people ties, he added, “The relationship between India and Japan is very special. This special partnership is not just between the leaders but is also built on human-to-human relations. Diwali is a great festival for strengthening the bond between the people of Japan and India. I am very happy to be celebrating my third Diwali in India. I enjoy myself here every year, and this year, once again, I look forward to celebrating with my Indian colleagues and friends. Happy Diwali!”
Looking ahead, the Ambassador also spoke about the upcoming 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Japan Looking ahead, the Ambassador also spoke about the upcoming 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Japan and the events planned to mark the occasion. “Next year, we are going to celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. This will be a great occasion to further strengthen our bond through various events in India and Japan. Many of these will include cultural festivals, concerts and anime events,” he tells us. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test Get the latest Lifestyle News and more. Download the TOI app.