This is a detailed report on the specific itinerary and activities of the joint visit to Miyagi Prefecture conducted by Prime Minister Ishiba and Indian Prime Minister Modi, documenting concrete inspection sites and the substance of exchanges.
Special Ceremony at Tokyo Station
Both leaders received a send-off at Tokyo Station from Indian train operators undergoing training at JR East and participated in a commemorative photo session. This was not merely a ceremonial event but served as a symbolic scene of Japan-India railway technology cooperation, representing a concrete example of technology transfer where Indian operators directly learn Japanese Shinkansen technology.
Inspection Experience of Innovative Shinkansen Technology
During the Tohoku Shinkansen journey, they inspected the test train "ALFA-X" stopped at Omiya Station in Saitama Prefecture. ALFA-X is a world-leading test vehicle aimed at commercial operation at 400 kilometers per hour, serving as the technological foundation for the new E10 series planned for introduction to India. Inside the train, both leaders conducted concrete exchanges of opinions about the Tohoku Shinkansen's operation systems, safety technology, and comfort levels, discussing in detail the technical specifications and operational methods for India's high-speed railway network development.
Strengthening Local Government Cooperation in Sendai
The luncheon in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, was attended by Governor Murai, the President of Tohoku University, and numerous Miyagi Prefecture officials, realizing extensive exchanges. Miyagi Prefecture and India already operate multiple exchange programs, and this summit-level exchange established a foundation for further expansion of cooperation between local governments and individual-level exchanges.
Strategic Partnership in Semiconductor Industry
At the Tokyo Electron Corporation semiconductor manufacturing equipment production facility in Yamato Town, Kurokawa District, both leaders directly inspected the latest semiconductor manufacturing equipment scheduled for delivery to India. This facility functions as one of the core bases of Japan's semiconductor manufacturing equipment industry and serves as a supply source for advanced technology equipment essential for developing India's semiconductor industry. The inspection confirmed concrete matching between Japanese technological capabilities and Indian market needs.
Comprehensive Summary of Diplomatic Achievements
In the final stage of the visit, Prime Minister Ishiba conducted an official press conference regarding the Miyagi Prefecture visit, providing detailed explanations of the achievements from this visit and specific directions for future Japan-India cooperation. This conference officially confirmed substantial progress in cooperative relationships that exceeded a mere goodwill visit.
The article demonstrates that this Miyagi visit became an important turning point for multi-layered Japan-India relationship development, achieving comprehensive expansion of Shinkansen technology transfer, semiconductor industry cooperation, and local-level exchanges, beyond merely strengthening personal relationships between the leaders.