PM Modi gifts Kashmiri Pashmina and moonstone bowl set to Japan PM Shigeru Ishiba during Tokyo visit
PM Modi offered a handwoven Kashmiri Pashmina shawl crafted from the fine wool of the Changthangi goat found in Ladakh
PTC Web Desk: Before concluding his visit to Japan on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented symbolic gifts of Indian heritage to his Japanese counterpart, Shigeru Ishiba, and his wife Yoshiko. For Yoshiko Ishiba, PM Modi offered a handwoven Kashmiri Pashmina shawl crafted from the fine wool of the Changthangi goat found in Ladakh. Renowned worldwide for its lightness, softness, and warmth, Pashmina weaving is a centuries-old craft that was once reserved for royalty.
The ivory shawl is adorned with delicate floral and paisley motifs in shades of rust, pink, and red, reflecting the timeless artistry of Kashmiri craftsmen. It was presented in a hand-painted papier-mâché box decorated with traditional floral and bird motifs, enhancing its cultural and artistic significance. Together, the shawl and box symbolise Kashmir’s rich heritage and India’s deep-rooted textile traditions.
Prime Minister Modi also gifted Shigeru Ishiba a vintage moonstone bowl set accompanied by silver chopsticks — an artistic fusion of Indian craftsmanship with Japanese culinary tradition. The gift included a large brown moonstone bowl with four smaller counterparts, drawing inspiration from Japan’s donburi and soba dining customs. The moonstone, sourced from Andhra Pradesh, is prized for its luminous adularescence and is believed to symbolise love, protection, and balance. The main bowl rests on a Makrana marble base, inlaid with semi-precious stones using Rajasthan’s intricate parchin kari technique.
The exchange of gifts came at the end of a packed schedule. Before leaving for the upcoming SCO summit in China, PM Modi, accompanied by Ishiba, travelled from Tokyo to Sendai aboard a bullet train and visited Tokyo Electron, a leading semiconductor and electronics manufacturer.
During the final leg of his trip, PM Modi also held a meeting with governors of 16 Japanese prefectures. Stressing the need to expand engagement beyond the traditional Tokyo–Delhi framework, he highlighted opportunities for state-prefecture partnerships to deepen bilateral cooperation across diverse sectors.