Ahead of visit, Modi tweets 'konnichiwa' in Japanese (Third Lead)

A social media aficionado, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took his Twitter posts to another level Wednesday, reaching out directly to the 127 million people of Japan, a country he is set to visit Aug 30 to Sep 3, in their own language.

"Friends from Japan asked me to talk to the people of Japan directly in Japanese. I also thank them for helping with the translation," the prime minister said in the post, after a set of eight tweets in Nihongo, as the language is called.

In fact one tweet was meant for his host and Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe who follows just three people in his Twitter account -- Modi being one of them.

"Am particularly excited to meet PM Abe. I deeply respect his leadership and enjoy a warm relationship with him from previous meetings," Modi said, sending out his personal "konnichiwa" or greetings.

"The Japan visit is an opportunity to take our ties to a new level and increase cooperation in various fields," Modi said, adding he was looking forward to visiting the country again.

The Indian prime minister said the visit would not only boost relations between the two nations but that it was his first bilateral trip as prime minister outside the subcontinent.

"I was to visit in early July but could not due to parliament session," he said. "I will visit Tokyo and Kyoto and will interact with all sections of the Japanese society from students, political leaders to captains of industry."

He also said the scale of innovation and level of precision among the people of Japan was admirable. Both nations, he said, could learn a lot from each other.

"Have very warm memories of visiting Japan as (Gujarat) CM. The hospitality and the immense scope for cooperation left a deep impression in my mind."

He said Japan's friendship with India was time tested. "We are two vibrant democracies committed to advancing peace and prosperity in the world."