Japan Chamber’ Secretary-General visits Rahul Sharma’s residence, offers condolences to family

NEW DELHI: Kenji Sugino, Secretary-General, Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in India (JCCII) visited the Gurugram-based residence of Indo-Japan affairs veteran, Rahul Sharma, on Sunday and paid condolences.

Mr. Sharma, former Chairman of Japan-India Business Promotion Council, ASSOCHAM, and Founder & President of Indo-Nippon Golf Cup had passed away on February 28 after a prolonged illness at age of 63.

Two former Secretary Generals of JCCII Kohno Kazuharu (2016-2019) and Yasuo Nishimoto (2011-2015) joined the aggrieved family online through a video chat from Japan to pay their condolences.

The present JCCII Secretary-General Mr. Sugino was unable to attend the funeral of late Mr. Sharma as he was traveling to his hometown Fukuoka in Japan and had returned to India on March 7. He also had to self-quarantine for mandatory 14 days after his arrival in India.

Jugesh Ch. Pegu, an IRS and former Chief Commissioner, Income-tax Department, New Delhi, Prakash Yadav, Founder and Director, AJU Group of Japanese Hotels, and Sanjeev K Ahuja, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Asian Community News (ACN) Network were also present to pay their condolences to the family.

Sharma is survived by his wife Aarti, and daughters Alisha and Palak who live is DLF5 home in Gurugram.

In the meeting, all the present revived fond memories they carried with Rahul Sharma when he was alive.

Kenji Sugino recalled that lately, Rahul Sharma was focusing on starting promotion of the north-eastern region as a hotspot for promoting Japanese investment, and he had also organized a couple of meetings on the subject at the ASSOCHAM office when he headed Japan-India Business Promotion Council.

“Assam government is planning to set up a Japanese Industrial Park in Guwahati, and there is huge scope for the industry to grow and Japanese investment to come there. The untimely death of Rahul Sharma is a big setback as he could have been a great help in promoting Indo-Japanese relations further,” he added.

On this occasion, Kenji Sugino also gifted the family a cherry blossom flowers painting made by his wife, and also a bottle of Sake wine (non-alcoholic).

All present also agreed to organize Nippon Golf Cup in the fond memory of Rahul Sharma, the founder and President of this venture.

While interacting through a video chat with Rahul Sharma’s wife Aarti, and daughters Alisha and Palak, the former JCCII Secretary-General Yasuo Nishimoto (2011-2015) said Mr. Sharma’s blood was more than half Japanese.

“I was surprised and sad when I heard about his demise. I miss a very good time with Rahul. I remember we enjoyed Johnnie Walker Black together. He was the most memorable person and Indian friend for me. He had so many Japanese friends. I want to come and meet you when I come to India next,” said Yasuo Nishimoto.

While offering his condolences the former JCCII Secretary-General Kohno Kazuharu (2016-2019) said, “He was such a nice friend. Time will heal your pain, and smiles come back on your face again.”

Prakash Yadav fully credited Rahul Sharma for whatever the former was today.

He recalled that about a decade back, he was a simple person till the time he met Mr. Sharma one fine day in 2008-09 at a golf course, and he handheld him to steer into the grand success of becoming the promoter of AJU Group of Japanese hotels with nine branches all over India and over 500 Japanese executives staying in those hotels at a time.