Japanese warship JS AKEBONO docks at Mumbai Port, marking deepening India-Japan Defence cooperation
JS Akebono (DD-108) is a Murasame-class destroyer operated by the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF).
Aboard JS Akebono, Mumbai Port, India – In a significant diplomatic and defence moment for India and Japan, the Japanese warship JS AKEBONO (DD 108) participated in an eight-day joint naval exercise with the Indian Navy alongside the UK Royal Navy and Norwegian Navy in the Arabian Sea on October 5-12 as part of the Indo-Pacific Deployment (IPD) 2025.
On October 12, the JS AKEBONO gracefully docked at the Mumbai port, where Yagi Koji, Consul General of Japan in Mumbai, and ship Commander Arai Katsutomo offered a ceremonial deck reception and a rare, up-close look at Japan’s naval presence and commitment to regional cooperation. The reception preceded the beach cleanup activity, during which the Commanding Officer donned gloves and, along with Japanese Consul General Yagi Koji, picked up marine debris.
JS Akebono (DD-108) is a Murasame-class destroyer operated by the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF). Commissioned in 2002, it is part of Japan’s modern fleet of multipurpose warships designed for anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine operations.
The event marked Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force’s second visit to Mumbai in recent years after the port visit of JS IKAZUCHI in 2023.
Previously, the JMSDF ship Akebono visited Mumbai in September 2018, during its return passage to Japan after deployment in the Gulf of Aden for an anti-piracy mission. During the stay in harbour, Captain Josuke Nakamura, Commander Escort Division Five, and Commander Yuuichi Haeno, Commanding Officer JMSDF Akebono, had interacted with Rear Admiral Puneet Kumar Bahl, FOMA. In addition, the crew had also visited INS Kochi of the Western Fleet.
On October 12, those who attended the reception included Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Maharashtra; Commander Prashant Chandrasekharan, Commanding Officer INS Angre; and Commander Richard Kemp, Commanding Officer HMS Richmond.
While welcoming the guests, Yagi Koji, Consul General of Japan in Mumbai, highlighted the centuries-old connection between Mumbai Port and Japan. He said,”As we stand at Mumbai Port this evening, we should not forget we are at the very place where the modern history of the Japan-India economic relationship began. Japanese companies, in collaboration with the Tata family, commenced the cotton trade by establishing a regular shipping route between Bombay and Kobe in 1893. This cotton trade, with Bombay Port as its hub, played a transformative role in Japan’s industrial development. It is a privilege to host you all at this Mumbai Port, a place with a distinguished legacy of shaping and strengthening Japan-India ties.”
Besides PM Modi’s recent visit to Japan, the Consul General also spoke about the UNICORN deal between India and Japan last year.
“It is encouraging to see the successful signing in November 2024 of the Memorandum of Implementation for co-development and co-production of Unified Complex Radio Antenna, or UNICORN, for deployment aboard Indian Navy vessels.”
UNICORN is a mast with integrated communication systems, which will help improve the stealth characteristics of naval platforms. If implemented, this project would be the first case of co-development and co-production of defence equipment between Japan and India.
Yagi Koji said that the Japan-India partnership was not limited to the defence and security domain, as the trade between the two nations was on an exponential rise. He cited examples of economic cooperation, mentioning Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Railway, Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, and Metro Line 3, the first underground metro line in Mumbai, which officially became fully operational just three days ago.
During the deck reception party, the food served included Japanese and western sweets, Canapé, YAKITORI, sangria, salad, Roast salmon, YAKISOBA, deep-fried tofu in dashi broth, fried chicken & potato, temari sushi, bean curry, seafood cocktail, fruit yoghurt, fried eggplant, spicy sweet vinegar, ramen noodles, and tempura. 
