Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met some of the leading Japanese personalities who were instrumental in promoting Indian culture in Japan, saying such interactions facilitate the deepening of mutual understanding and creating stronger bonds between the two countries.

Mr. Modi is in Hiroshima to attend three sessions at the G-7 summit following an invitation by his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida.

Mr. Modi met Tomio Mizokami, Professor Emeritus at the Graduate School of Foreign Studies of Osaka University, an author and linguist proficient in Hindi and Punjabi languages.

Mr. Mizokami was conferred the Padma Shri in 2018 for his contribution to the promotion of Indian literature and culture in Japan.

He presented the widely acclaimed book Jwalamukhi — an anthology of writings from the 1980s by a cohort of Japanese scholars who laid the foundation of Hindi learning in Japan, according to the press release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Mr. Modi also met and interacted with Hiroko Takayama, who was born in Hiroshima and is a Western-style painter, whose works are deeply influenced by her deep association with India, spanning over two decades.

Ms. Takayama has conducted several workshops and held exhibitions in India, and was briefly a Visiting Professor at Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, the press release said. She presented the Prime Minister with one of her prominent works — an oil painting of the Buddha, created in 2022.

Mr. Modi said such interactions facilitate the deepening of mutual understanding, respect and creating stronger bonds between our countries.