Authors
A video of a group of people wearing T-shirts of the Indian tricolour flag and doing surya namaskar is being attributed to Japan.
The video shows a large group of people wearing t-shirts of the Indian tricolour flag and doing surya namaskar on the Gayatri mantra. Towards the end of the two-minute video, PM Narendra Modi can be seated in the audience.
One such claim shared with this video on Twitter reads, “Old is Gold. What a beautiful sight. Japanese doing Surya namaskar with our National flag as their Dress Code. India is shinning and spreading its rich culture throughout the World. Slowly but surely we are becoming torch bearers in every field.”
We found that this claim was shared in 2019 and 2018 as well.
What a beautiful sight japanese doing surya namaskar in Japan with our National flag Dress Code. We should take pride in spreading our culture throughout the world. Yoga helps to make your mind calm and keeps you healthy. #WednesdayWisdom #WednesdayMotivation#Yoga pic.twitter.com/pdUIDOkMUc— Sarvesh Tiwari (@SarveshSays) January 16, 2019
An archived version of this claim can be viewed here.
Fact Check/ Verification
Through a combination of reverse image search of the video’s keyframes and keyword search we found a 2015 video on Mango News’ Youtube channel. Titled, “PM Modi at Indian Community Reception in Mongolia: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and Surya Namaskar” this video shows PM Modi addressing the “Indian diaspora at a community reception in Mongolia.”
Next, we found the clip from the claim in a video uploaded on PM Modi’s official Youtube channel in May 2015. Titled, “PM Modi at the Community Reception & Yoga Event organised by ‘Art of Living’ in Mongolia,” the clip can be seen at the 5.30 timestamp.
Sharing the video from PM Modi’s official Youtube channel, a May 2015 tweet from PMO India’s account reads, “Had I not come here and met you all, perhaps this trip would be incomplete.”
More information about his Mongolia visit can be found on narendramodi.in.
Economic Times in it’s 16 May 2015 article details PM Modi’s visit to Mongolia during which he held “talks with the country’s leadership to bolster economic and trade cooperation, including in transport, highways and energy sectors.” Times of India includes day-to-day details on his visit.
This claim has been debunked in our Hindi fact-check as well.
Conclusion
Our research makes it clear that the video in context is from PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Mongolia in an event organised by the Art of Living. Social media users have attributed this video to Japan, which is misleading.
Result: Misplaced Context
Our Sources
Mango News: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrDaW15dBy4
Narendra Modi’s official Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGgQ7ng_pCQ
Narendramodi.in: https://www.narendramodi.in/pm-modi-s-visit-to-mongolia-108469
Times of India: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/pm-modi-in-mongolia/liveblog/47314575.cms
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