The inaugural ICIJ Youth Seminar took place on August 27, 2025, at the ICIJ Hall in Tokyo. The event began with a ceremonial prayer to mark an auspicious start. Following this, ICIJ Chairman Mr. Ryuko Hira delivered an inspiring opening address, leading the gathering in a prayer to Lord Ganesha, invoking blessings on the occasion of Vinayak Chaturdashi. He prayed for the success, resilience, and unity of the young Indian professionals in Japan, highlighting the cultural, emotional, and career-related challenges they often face, and sought divine guidance to help them overcome these hurdles.

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In his welcoming speech, Mr. Hira highlighted the strong cultural ties between India and Japan, noting that many of Japan’s core cultural values originate from India. Recalling a key moment in the relationship, he mentioned the arrival of 800 Indian engineers in 2000, which marked the beginning of a larger movement of Indian professionals to Japan. He wrapped up with a powerful statement: “Without Indian culture, there is no Japanese culture.”

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Following Mr. Hira’s address, Mr. Natarajan Subramania, Vice President of ICIJ and a respected entrepreneur in Japan’s IT sector, shared his personal journey of arriving in Japan at age 21 and building a successful IT business. Encouraging young

professionals to seek guidance, he offered his support to those aspiring to start their own ventures in Japan.

 

Mr. Natarajan also introduced the ICIJ Youth Group leadership:​

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• Mr. Sanjeev Gupta, Governor of the ICIJ Youth Committee

• Mr. Manjul Agrawal, Member of the Youth Committee

• Ms. Jayshree Mohana, Member of the Youth Committee

 

Mr. Sanjeev Gupta, a Board Member at SBI Shinsei Bank and a key leader of the Youth Group, then addressed the audience. With over 41 years of experience in Japan, he discussed the emotional journey of living and working abroad. He described the youth group as a safe, supportive, and inclusive community designed to foster meaningful friendships, mentorship, and empowerment for Indian youth in Japan.

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Mr. Gupta also outlined plans for the Youth Group, including:

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• Thematic discussion forums

• Informal youth meet-ups

• One-on-one mentorship opportunities

• Networking events with professionals and business leaders

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The next speaker, Dr. Lekh Juneja, Chairman of Kameika Seika (a leading rice cracker manufacturer), praised the initiative. He highlighted the importance of learning from experienced professionals and urged youth to make the most of the platform to grow, connect, and support each other.

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Mr. J.S. Chandrani, President of ICIJ, then shared his reflections. He noted that such platforms did not exist in the past and highlighted how today’s youth are fortunate to have access to a strong support network. He also mentioned that the ICIJ operates under the Cabinet Office of the Japanese Government and encouraged young participants to collaborate, exchange ideas, and make the most of the platform.

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The seminar wrapped up with a Q&A session, where participants asked about upcoming activities. The leadership assured them that the frequency and type of events would be based on member interest and enthusiasm. Planned activities included business discussions, idea sharing, personal development, and networking opportunities.

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The evening concluded with self-introductions from all youth attendees, followed by an informal networking session and dinner that fostered a warm atmosphere of connection and camaraderie.