And for a Friday in Tokyo, coincidentally celebrating Diwali and the Halloween night, some thoughts….. some musings…..
Diwali is undoubtedly pan India’s most celebrated and colourful festival, full of hope, new clothes, sweets, love and family bonding all around. Happy Diwali to all my near and dear ones who follow my Friday blog. Halloween, though started as a religious function, has now metamorphosed into a globally secular function full of costumes and clothes. Children and adults enjoy in high spirits and lit bonfires to ward off the evil spirits. Yesterday night at the world famous Shibuya crossing in Tokyo, was a vast sea of humanity, all colourful and in all kinds of costumes full of clean good fun and “Masti”. Sometimes I wonder if it’s Times Square in New York, Shibuya in Tokyo or Gateway of India in Mumbai, which is more vibrant and exuberant on such special nights.
On another note, in Sunday’s national election to the Japanese Parliament called “The Diet”, PM Shigeru Ishiba who had called for a snap poll, has lost majority. Though he still is the leading party, his coalition does not have a clear majority nor does the Opposition coalition. So periods of political instability and all kinds of possible equations and opportunistic partnerships being worked out. Irrespective of which coalition comes to power, the Japan-India trade which is currently hovering around 25 Bn $s is poised for significant growth. The China plus one strategy will see Japan being forced to reduce its huge dependence on China to other countries and India, surely with its excellent political, social and cultural long standing relations, will hugely benefit. It’s not easy though. Language and the closed Japanese cultures are big barriers to surmount. But it’s changing surely. More than 2 lakh new visas will be issued under the new visa policy. Bright and Entrepreneurial and techie and services oriented Indians have good scope to enter aging Japan.
Based on my many interactions with business leaders, students and others on this trip, the Indian growth story is well appreciated. Let’s all support India’s growth, the endearing way, the inclusive way, the SEEGOS way.