Pema Khandu, the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh, is now on an official tour of Japan. While there, he visited Sophia University in Tokyo and the Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park, stressing potential areas of cooperation in disaster management, technology, and higher education. Khandu shared on social media that his visit to Sophia University provided him with a valuable opportunity to interact with the university’s president, Prof. Miki Sugimura, and its chancellor, Sali Augustine SJ, as well as representatives from the Indian Embassy.
In a post on X, Khandu stated, “I’m encouraged to hear that Japanese universities are increasingly offering English-medium courses and that the Japanese education sector is opening up for greater global collaboration.” The chief minister also mentioned how happy he was to get back in touch with Prof. Sali Augustine SJ, the current chancellor of Sophia University and a former employee of Arunachal Pradesh. “Meeting Prof. Augustine, who was formerly employed in Arunachal Pradesh and continues to honor the state with his contributions to international academia, was a pleasure,” Khandu remarked.
Khandu visited a number of Indian academics who were successful at other Japanese colleges when he was there. He also strolled around the picturesque campus of Sophia University, one of Japan’s most prominent universities, which is situated in the center of Tokyo. He also visited the laboratory of the mechanical engineering department, where he spoke with academics and students and gained an appreciation for Japan’s dedication to innovation and research. In a different post, the chief minister said, “Very impressed by Japan’s unwavering passion for technological advancement and continuous innovation.”
Khandu went to the Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park later that day, where he was able to observe firsthand Japan’s well-known disaster management and preparedness systems. “Japan is incredibly well-prepared to deal with natural disasters, with effective planning, awareness campaigns, and public information systems,” he said.
