SAKURA SCIENCE High School Program Group 2
Courtesy Visit to the Embassy of India in Japan
On the afternoon of Monday, June 29, a total of 54 participants from the second group of the Sakura Science High School Program (SSHP)—51 high school students from India and 3 supervisors—paid a courtesy visit to the Embassy of India in Tokyo (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo).
The Indian high school students currently visiting Japan are among the top award recipients of the INSPIRE Awards–MANAK, an annual science competition organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, with the aim of identifying and fostering young scientific talent. Their inventions and research projects are of a remarkably high standard, and patent applications have reportedly been filed for some of them.
At the beginning of the visit, a video was shown featuring the trip to India by 20 Japanese high school students from Makuhari Junior and Senior high School and Aichi Prefectural Okazaki High School, organized by the DST in December 2025.
This was followed by remarks from Mr. Madhu R. Sudan, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of India in Japan, who encouraged the students by saying:
“Japan and India are seeking to strengthen cooperation in a wide range of advanced science and technology fields, including the space sector. I hope that all of you will play an active role as bridges between our two countries, both in research and development and in business.”
During the Q&A session, the students eagerly asked a series of questions, such as, “How can we study medicine in Japan?”, “What do you think of Japanese cuisine?”, and “What should we learn while we are in Japan?”
Mr. Sudan, now in his second year in Japan, responded thoughtfully to each question, drawing on his own experiences. The session was conducted in a warm and friendly atmosphere throughout.
In addition, a representative of the Indian students shared their enthusiasm for participating in the Sakura Science Program, stating:
“Although we have only recently arrived in Japan, we have already been exposed to values such as punctuality and discipline, and we feel that this will be a wonderful experience that will help shape our future careers. We are sincerely grateful for this unique opportunity to visit Japan's outstanding research institutes and universities and to interact with leaders in various fields.”
The visit was a meaningful and memorable occasion for these talented young Indians, allowing them to visit their country's embassy in Japan and reaffirm their aspirations as the next generation of leaders who will help shape the future.
