<p>The Consulate-General of Japan in Bengaluru recently celebrated the 62nd birthday of Naruhito, the Emperor of Japan. </p>.<p> Naruhito is the 126th emperor of Japan, according to the country’s traditional order of succession. The emperor’s birthday is also celebrated as the ‘National Day’ in Japan. </p>.<p>Industry leaders from various sectors, including trade, tech and tourism, were in attendance. They got a glimpse of the Japanese culture and traditions such as ‘Kagami-wari’.</p>.<p>It is a traditional sake barrel breaking ceremony and was performed by the Consul-General along with Takashi Ishikawa, president of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Katanori Otsuji, president of the Japanese Association, S Janakiraman, president of the Indo-Japan Chamber Of Commerce and Industries Karnataka, and K R Sekar, president of the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce. </p>.<p>Addressing the gathering, Akiko Sugita, Consul-General, said, “I want to take this opportunity to celebrate both His Majesty the Emperor’s birthday and also to promote the friendship between Japan and India.”</p>.<p>The occasion also marked the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Japan and India. The theme of the anniversary celebrations is ‘Building a future for our Centenary’ and as a part of it, commemorative events will take place in both countries all year. For instance, ‘Japan Food and Sake Festival 2022’, a virtual event will be held from February 28 to March 6. “The year 2022 is also a milestone to commemorate the ‘Japan-Southwest Asia Exchange Year’. I hope we can promote economic and cultural exchange between the two countries,” she added.</p>.<p>Consul-General Akiko Sugita will return to Japan by the end of March. “I have spent one year and eight months in Bengaluru, which is too short a time to know this dynamic city,” she said. During her tenure, she missed no opportunity to showcase the Japanese culture by organising festivals like ‘Hinamatsuri’, for which she put up a doll display at her residence.</p>
<p>The Consulate-General of Japan in Bengaluru recently celebrated the 62nd birthday of Naruhito, the Emperor of Japan. </p>.<p> Naruhito is the 126th emperor of Japan, according to the country’s traditional order of succession. The emperor’s birthday is also celebrated as the ‘National Day’ in Japan. </p>.<p>Industry leaders from various sectors, including trade, tech and tourism, were in attendance. They got a glimpse of the Japanese culture and traditions such as ‘Kagami-wari’.</p>.<p>It is a traditional sake barrel breaking ceremony and was performed by the Consul-General along with Takashi Ishikawa, president of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Katanori Otsuji, president of the Japanese Association, S Janakiraman, president of the Indo-Japan Chamber Of Commerce and Industries Karnataka, and K R Sekar, president of the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce. </p>.<p>Addressing the gathering, Akiko Sugita, Consul-General, said, “I want to take this opportunity to celebrate both His Majesty the Emperor’s birthday and also to promote the friendship between Japan and India.”</p>.<p>The occasion also marked the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Japan and India. The theme of the anniversary celebrations is ‘Building a future for our Centenary’ and as a part of it, commemorative events will take place in both countries all year. For instance, ‘Japan Food and Sake Festival 2022’, a virtual event will be held from February 28 to March 6. “The year 2022 is also a milestone to commemorate the ‘Japan-Southwest Asia Exchange Year’. I hope we can promote economic and cultural exchange between the two countries,” she added.</p>.<p>Consul-General Akiko Sugita will return to Japan by the end of March. “I have spent one year and eight months in Bengaluru, which is too short a time to know this dynamic city,” she said. During her tenure, she missed no opportunity to showcase the Japanese culture by organising festivals like ‘Hinamatsuri’, for which she put up a doll display at her residence.</p>