Japan Ambassador Ono Keiichi Eats Biryani by Hand at Andhra Bhavan

New Delhi, India – A simple team lunch at Andhra Pradesh Bhavan turned into a heart-warming cross‑cultural moment when Japan’s Ambassador to India, ONO Keiichi, shared a video of himself savouring biryani by hand. He said it tasted better like sushi when eaten by hand, and captioning in Telugu చాలా బాగుంది (“Very good”). The post, made after his January 21 visit with embassy colleagues, went viral, symbolising the easy warmth defining Indo‑Japan ties.

Ono Keiichi shared a video on his social media handles of himself eating biryani at Delhi’s Andhra Pradesh Bhavan.

The Embassy’s official handle set the tone: “Team lunch at Andhra Pradesh Bhavan. We enjoyed a delicious and authentic Andhra thali together—full of bold flavours and spice!”

Ono’s personal touch followed: “Tried eating biryani by hand—following my Indian friends. Like sushi, it tastes even better when eaten with your hands. I feel I’ve come a little closer to my friends!” The clip shows an Indian companion demonstrating the art of hand‑eating rice, with Ono nodding enthusiastically before digging in.

Ambassador was seen in the sleeveless Indian-styled jacket while dining at the Andhra Pradesh Bhawan at Ashoka Road, a few kilometres from the Japanese embassy.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu swiftly responded on X: “I’m glad you enjoyed our traditional food at AP Bhavan today. My best compliments to you all. There is much more waiting for you… We look forward to welcoming you all to your second home, Andhra Pradesh.”

Comparing Andhra cuisine’s “warmth and generosity” to Japanese precision in sushi, Naidu invited the diplomats for deeper immersion.

Andhra Pradesh Bhavan prioritises unpretentious, family‑style South Indian meals over fine dining. It’s an ideal spot for anyone seeking genuine regional flavours amid Delhi’s bustle, with dishes prepared traditionally with local spices and balanced home-cooking techniques.

In the X video, Ambassador Keiichi Ono is shown receiving a hands‑on lesson from a staff member on blending and eating biryani without utensils—a time‑honoured Indian practice. Embracing this ritual with evident delight, he remarked that the dish was far more enjoyable this way, sparking widespread admiration online for his genuine enthusiasm toward local customs.

The visit underscores the growing culinary diplomacy between Japan and India’s regions. Andhra Bhavan, a cultural outpost in Chanakyapuri, regularly draws dignitaries for fiery thalis featuring gongura mamsam, pulihora, and spicy pickles—dishes that pack the punch of Telugu hospitality. Ono’s Telugu phrase charmed netizens, with reactions flooding in: “Diplomacy one biryani at a time!” and “From sushi chopsticks to biryani hands—true friendship.”

Ono, appointed in 2024, has championed people‑to‑people ties through such gestures, from temple visits to festival joins. Amid India–Japan’s “Special Strategic Partnership”—bilateral trade at $22 billion—these moments humanise high diplomacy. As Ono noted, shared meals bridge worlds, one spicy handful at a time.