India, Japan to Launch ‘Jaa Mata’ Coast Guard Drill Off Chennai Coast

The Indian Coast Guard and the Japanese Coast Guard will conduct a joint exercise, codenamed Jaa Mata (meaning "see you later" in Japanese), off the coast of Chennai. The Japan Coast Guard will be represented by its ship, Itsukushima, which arrived at Chennai Port on 7th July 2025.

The Japanese Coast Guard ship Itsukushima is on a Global Ocean Voyage Training mission, during which it is making port calls in various friendly countries.

The visit of the Japanese Coast Guard Ship is a part of the  Memorandum of Cooperation signed in 2006 between the Indian Coast Guard and the Japanese Coast Guard to strengthen the maritime partnership between India and Japan.

Japanese Coast Guard ship Itsukushima's visit to India

Captain Naoki Mizoguchi is the commander of the Japanese Coast Guard Ship Itsukushima. 

The Japanese crews are the guests of the Headquarters, Coast Guard Region (East).

Activities in Chennai

• The Japanese Coast Guard Ship Itsukushima will be in Chennai from June 7 to 12, 2025.
• To promote and strengthen the relationship between the personnel of the two Coast Guards, reciprocal visits will be made by the Indian and Japanese Coast Guards to each other's ships.
• There will also be cultural and professional interactions between the two Coast Guards.
• They will also conduct a training exercise code-named Jaa Mata.
• Vice Admiral Hiroaki Kaosue of the Japanese Coast Guard will also meet Indian Coast Guard Director General Paramesh Sivamani.
• In a special gesture, four officers of the Indian Coast Guard will board the Japanese Ship as  Sea Riders during the Japanese ship's next journey to Singapore.

About the Indian Coast Guard 

Established - 1 February 1977 on the recommendation of the K.F. Rustamji committee.

Ministry -  Union Ministry of Defence.

Function 

• Protecting India's coastal areas and exclusive economic zones.
• Enforce maritime laws, prevent smuggling on high seas, prevent and control marine pollution, protect marine environments, etc.

First Director General - Vice-Admiral V.A. Kamath

26th and current Director General of Coast Guard- Paramesh Sivamani

Command Structure of Coast Guard 

The headquarters of the Indian Coast Guard is in New Delhi, with five Regional Command Centres.

Indian Coast Guard Motto: "Vayam Rakshamah"

Indian Coast Guard Foundation Day- 1st February