New Delhi, July 2: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday shared a reel on Instagram showing Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a self-confessed metalhead, playing the santoor, a traditional Indian percussion instrument, during a cultural luncheon in Delhi.
Cultural Moment at the Summit
"Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi trying her hand at Indian music!" PM Modi captioned the reel. Takaichi, 65, joined Modi for the luncheon after bilateral and delegation-level talks, including the 16th India-Japan annual summit and the India-Japan economic forum. The Japanese PM also posted pictures with Modi on her Instagram.
Takaichi, a lifelong fan of British heavy metal bands like Deep Purple and Iron Maiden, played drums in a metal band during her university years. According to Japanese media, she de-stresses by playing an electronic drum kit at her residence. In the reel, she played a few notes on the santoor while Modi looked on and smiled, with the audience applauding.
The Press Secretary accompanying Takaichi posted on X: "A moment from the luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Modi. At the luncheon, there was entertainment with performances on traditional instruments. Toward the end, Prime Minister Takaichi, after expressing thanks to all the performers, was invited by one of the musicians to try playing the traditional instrument santu, and... Prime Minister Modi also smiled and clapped."
Modi Highlights Shared Interests
Earlier, at the India-Japan Joint Economic Forum, PM Modi noted Takaichi's fondness for motorbikes. "We are delighted that Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Honda bikes are exported across the globe from India. When Japanese expertise combines with India's speed and scale, the entire world benefits," he said. Japanese outlets had reported her love for riding Kawasaki's Z400GP motorcycles and her heavy metal past, influenced by a music college student who taught her piano in elementary school.
The duo virtually inaugurated Maruti Suzuki's fourth manufacturing facility in Kharkhoda, Haryana. During the summit, Modi referred to Takaichi as his "younger sister" (Choti Behan), and she reciprocated, agreeing to advance bilateral relations "as brother and sister."
Strategic and Economic Agreements
Takaichi posted on social media: "Today, we held a meeting with Prime Minister Modi. During the meeting, we exchanged views on the regional situation, particularly regarding the Indo-Pacific." She stated the leaders agreed to deepen strategic cooperation for a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)" and advance Modi's "MahASAGAR" (Maritime Growth for All) agenda. In security, they agreed to strengthen cooperation under the revised "Joint Security Cooperation" framework. On economic security, a joint statement committed to enhanced public-private collaboration.
In energy security, they established a partnership to strengthen India's oil reserve system under the "Power Asia" initiative and launched the "Collaborative Biogas for Growth" initiative for India's energy transition. Takaichi said: "Looking ahead to the 75th anniversary of Japan-India relations, we will continue to contribute to the prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region and the international community as a whole."
Investment and Defence Cooperation
The India-Japan investment partnership agreements include fresh Japanese investments in artificial intelligence, defence, energy, and next-generation mobility, with a renewed target of attracting 10 trillion JPY (USD 62 billion) in Japanese investment over the next decade. The leaders also signed an agreement for their first joint defence co-development project. "We will now jointly develop defence technologies that strengthen regional peace, maritime security and the rules-based order," PM Modi said.
Takaichi is on her first visit to India since becoming PM, and both leaders addressed a joint press statement after the bilateral talks.
