Recently elected Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is one of just three people followed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Twitter. The other two are Japanese journalist-turned-politician Naoki Inose (Abe forced Inose to resign as Governor of Tokyo after a political funds-related scandal in 2013; he’s back to writing now) and his wife Akie Abe, a former radio disc jockey in her husband’s hometown.
Modi and Abe are proven friends willing to break political protocol in order to pursue stronger India-Japan ties. Together the plan to take a strong stand against China when it comes to territorial disputes and yet continue to do business with Beijing to reach their respective economic goals. Friends and foes of both nations will undoubtedly watch the friendship strengthen this summer. Prime Minister Modi (with his 4.7 million Twitter followers in virtual tow) is expected to visit Japan in July, and the US in September for the UN General Assembly in New York.
