Japan Coast Guard Ship ‘Itsukushima’ lands in Chennai to enhance India-Japan Maritime relations

(Forelines) – As part of its Global Ocean Voyage Training, the JCG Ship Itsukushima, commanded by Captain Naoki Mizoguchi, landed at Chennai Port on July 07, 2025, strengthening the strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific between the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The week-long port call includes high-level bilateral talks, collaborative professional and cultural exchanges, and a sea exercise aimed at enhancing interoperability between the two forces, according to India’s Defence Ministry said in a press release.

During the port call, crew members will take part in yoga, sports, reciprocal ship visits, courtesy calls, and cooperative training sessions. On July 12, 2025, they will participate in a joint maritime exercise called “Jaa Mata” (see you later).

As a symbol of growing cooperation, four ICG officers will sail to Singapore as Sea Riders on board Itsukushima, carrying on the tradition of professional exchange. In keeping with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) strategy and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), this engagement builds on the 2006 Memorandum of Cooperation between Japan and India.