Japan’s Ambassador to India and Bhutan, Keiichi Ono, has made many people happy online after posting a photo of himself enjoying a famous dish from Bihar called litti chokha. While visiting Bihar, he shared his experience on X (formerly Twitter) and called litti chokha “world-famous.” In Bhojpuri, he said, “Gajab swad ba,” which means “Great taste.”
He wrote, “Namaste, Bihar! Finally had the chance to try the world-famous Litti Chokha – Gajab Swad Ba,” along with a joyful picture of himself eating the dish. His use of the local language touched many hearts and made his post popular.
The post got more than 180,000 views and lots of positive comments. People loved that the ambassador not only enjoyed the local food but also spoke in the regional language. One person said, “You’ve won hearts in Bihar today.” Another comment read, “This is soft diplomacy at its finest.” Some joked that he should try other local foods like sattu paratha and thekua. Others praised his Bhojpuri accent, saying, “That accent is on point!”
Many comments showed pride in Bihari food, with one saying, “When a Japanese envoy praises our litti-chokha, we know our heritage is global.” Another added, “Now even foreigners know what we eat with pride.” Some even offered to show him more amazing Bihari dishes.
Along with enjoying the local food, Ambassador Ono talked about his official work. He mentioned visiting the Bihar National Highway Improvement Project, which is supported by Japan. He wrote, “Together with the Commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency, I visited the Bihar National Highway Improvement Project funded by the Govt of Japan. The project will help reduce travel time and improve tourism in the state.”
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