A group of 20 enthusiastic and excited school children from India were flagged off on June 14 to participate in the Sakura Science Programme 2025, a prestigious initiative hosted by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). The students, along with two accompanying supervisors, will represent India in Japan from 15 to 21 June 2025, joining participants from Malaysia, Taiwan, and Ukraine.
The send-off ceremony in New Delhi was presided over by Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education. The delegation includes students from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and Government Schools located in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Ladakh, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura.
While addressing the students, Shri Sanjay Kumar highlighted the significance of the programme as a unique opportunity to explore a developed nation renowned for its technological and scientific advancements. “It is imperative that students and their mentors understand the importance of this journey—not just as a visit, but as an experience that will shape future innovators and deepen India-Japan bilateral ties,” he said.
The Sakura Science Programme, officially known as the Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science, was launched in 2014 to broaden young minds and promote interest in science through cross-border academic exchange. India joined the initiative in 2016, and since then, a total of 619 students and 91 supervisors from India have participated. The most recent delegation visited Japan in November 2024.
Through short-term visits, the programme exposes students to Japan’s cutting-edge science and technology ecosystem, while also offering immersive experiences in its rich cultural heritage. It is part of JST’s commitment to fostering future generations of global scientific leaders.
The initiative aligns strongly with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which places emphasis on making education holistic, integrated, and engaging. NEP-2020 promotes experiential learning as a cornerstone of pedagogy, encouraging educational excursions to places of scientific, historical, and cultural significance. Japan, with its blend of tradition and innovation, offers an ideal setting for such transformative learning experiences.
This latest group of students carries not just the aspirations of their communities, but also the hope of strengthening academic and scientific ties between India and Japan. As they embark on this exciting journey, they stand poised to return with new perspectives, deeper knowledge, and a shared vision for a better, innovation-driven future.
