HUBBALLI: As industrial relations between India and Japan are hitting a new high, engineering graduates in Hubballi are getting more educational and job opportunities in the Land of the Rising Sun. Japanese companies are keen on investing in Hubballi and North Karnataka . Realising that knowing this language is essential for working in Japan and for Japanese companies, many students and professionals are queueing up to learn it.Students pursuing a BE deg ree are joining Japanese language classes and also trying to know more about the culture. Observing this trend, KLE Technological University, which conducted a Japanese language conversation programme last year, is introducing the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) for its students from July.Prof Sanjay Kotabagi, dean, student welfare, KLE Technological University, said vice-chancellor Ashok Shettar planned to incorporate teaching students Japanese. "When we searched for like-minded organisations, we got guidance from Bengaluru-based Shivarudra Trust. When we conducted a 50-hour Japanese conversation programme over the weekends last year and 38 students joined the free course. This year, we're launching 170 hours for the JLPT and 25 students have enrolled for it. The varsity is providing infrastructure for the course and students will pay the fee," he said.Dr VB Nitali, the trust's honorary president for NK region, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Japan in November 2016 took Indo-Japanese relations to a higher level."When KLE Technological University made its plan known to us, we connected it with the Sakuraa Nihongo Resource Centre (SNRC) in Bengaluru. We've been receiving enquiries about language classes from business organisations and professionals too," he added. He said many students are going to Japan for higher studies.Srikant Kabade, secretary, Shivarudra Trust and a civil engineer, said he learnt the language and felt it's not very difficult."The pronunciation is lilting and beautiful like Kannada," he said.Rama SC, in-charge operations, SNRC, Bengaluru, said there are different levels in teaching Japanese. "We providing training at the beginners' level i.e. JLPT for KLE students. Our resource persons instill confidence among students and train them on how to face interviews in a Japanese company," she added.

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