An interpretation error has prompted the Japanese government to clarify a statement made by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during a recent joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The incident occurred on July 2 in New Delhi, where Takaichi mistakenly referred to Modi’s remark, stating he had called her his “beautiful sister.” However, this turned out to be a mistranslation.
According to officials, the confusion arose from Modi’s comment in Hindi, in which he referred to Takaichi as “my sister.” The official English translation rendered this as “my younger sister.” Nonetheless, during the process of simultaneous relay interpretation from Hindi to English and subsequently to Japanese, the phrase was inaccurately translated, resulting in the expression “beautiful sister.”
The mistranslation led Takaichi to repeat the phrase under the assumption it was correct, further mentioning that she and Modi had agreed to maintain their relationship as brother and sister. The Japanese government has since offered an explanation, attributing the error to the complexities involved in the relay interpretation process. Despite the mix-up, the incident has not impacted diplomatic ties between Japan and India.
Officials have confirmed that there have been no concerns raised by the Indian government regarding the mistranslation. The clarification aims to ensure that the diplomatic relationship between the two nations remains unaffected, as both countries continue to collaborate on various fronts.