Japanese team in NE to promote cultural exchanges

Guwahati: Amid rising interest in Japanese culture and the Japanese language in Assam and northeastern states, the Japan Foundation — the Japanese govt’s cultural exchange agency—intensified its outreach in the northeast. From Feb 11 to 14, the Foundation’s New Delhi office, led by director Koji Sato, sent a delegation to Assam to meet with universities, schools and govt institutions.One team held a 2-day “Japan Caravan” at Tezpur University on Feb 11 and 12, featuring an introductory Japanese-language learning programme along with film screenings and wider cultural sessions.A second team, led by Sato, carried out a survey in Guwahati ahead of the planned long-term dispatch of Japanese-language specialists. The group visited multiple institutions, including Gauhati University, IIT Guwahati, and various private universities and schools.“Japan and India have jointly set a target of achieving 500,000 people-to-people exchanges over the 5-year period beginning in 2025,” the Foundation said in a statement.