Japan’s First Lady gets busy with students,husband with state affairs

Addressing students,Noda said,“All youngsters here are assets who will one day shoulder the responsibilities of the two countries.” She said students should appreciate various cultures and learn from each other.

She said the relationship between India and Japan has been “growing stronger” each year and hoped that the friendship between the countries continued to flourish in the future as well.

An orchestra,comprising both Indian students and Japanese residents in India,and featuring a mix of instruments from the two countries,performed for their elite guests. The event was organised to commemorate 60 years of Indo-Japan diplomatic relations.

Thirty students,trained by third secretary,Embassy of Japan,Masahiro Nagira and Hata,General Manager, Ritsumeikan,India Centre,rendered songs in Hindi,English and Japanese.

Nagira composed a version of Saare Jahan Se Accha in Japanese and students from five schools in Delhi rendered the composition to a rousing applause from the audience. Nagira said that it took him a month to compose the song and about six days to train the students.

Principal of Bluebells International School Suman Kumar said the friendship between the two countries began with “a trunk call to Tokyo by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and since then the ties have grown more concrete”.

Students from the Japanese school in Delhi also participated in the event along with officers from the Japanese Embassy and principals of various schools.