BENGALURU: The number of Japanese companies in the state has increased to over 300 and there are around 1,120 Japanese nationals working in the city, according to Takeshi Yagi, the Japanese Ambassador to India. Ambassador Yagi on Wednesday hosted a reception to celebrate the upcoming birthday of Japanese Emperor Akihito who turns 81 on December 23.
Emperor Akihito’s birthday is also celebrated as the Japanese National Day by the country and expats around the world.
On Wednesday, the city’s sizable Japanese community gathered for an evening of traditional cuisine and to listen to the ambassador’s address.
“The bilateral relationship between India and Japan is progressing steadily. It is now elevated to a special strategic partnership. Japanese investment in India, both public and private, will be 3.5 trillion yen in a five-year period,” Ambassador Yagi said.
Speaking about the ties between Japan and Karnataka, Yagi said that several high ranking officials from Japan visited the city ‘often’. Japanese agencies are co-operating and funding several infrastructure projects in the city like Namma Metro as well as projects by Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB).
Governor Vajubhai Vala, the chief guest at the reception, said ties between both the countries were strengthened with the visits of the Japanese Emperor and Prime Minister to India as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Japan recently.
“I am confident that many companies from Japan will accept Narendra Modi’s invite to ‘Make in India’ and choose Karnataka to establish their factories. The State government will support them with whatever their requirements are,” he said.
Consul Nobuki Yamamoto of the Japanese Consulate in Bengaluru was also present at the reception.
Emperor Akihito was born on December 23, 1933 in Tokyo to Emperor Hirohito and Empress Nagako Kuniat. He succeeded Hirohito as the Emperor in 1989.