Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi plays santoor during India visit, wins hearts online

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delighted audiences during her official visit to India by trying her hand at the traditional Indian musical instrument, the santoor. A video of the moment, shared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media, quickly gained attention, with many praising her enthusiasm for Indian culture.

The cultural exchange took place alongside the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit in New Delhi, where both leaders held discussions on strengthening cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, artificial intelligence, defence, clean energy, and critical technologies. Takaichi's participation in the musical performance was seen as a warm gesture that reflected the strong friendship between India and Japan.

The visit marks Takaichi's first official trip to India as Japan's Prime Minister and highlights the growing strategic partnership between the two nations. Along with signing several key agreements, the leaders emphasized deeper people-to-people connections through cultural exchanges.

The viral santoor performance has become one of the most memorable moments of the visit, symbolizing the close and evolving relationship between India and Japan.