Defence Minister A K Antony leaves for a three-day visit to Tokyo this evening to discuss increasing cooperation in anti-piracy efforts and military training. This will be the first trip of an Indian Minister to Japan after a new government took over there in September. During the visit, Mr Antony will meet his Japanese counterpart Toshimi Kitazawa to review the bilateral defence relations and to take it to a higher stage. Issues such as the possibility of increasing coordination in anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, holding joint exercises between armed forces and exchange of students in the Defence training institutions of both the countries are expected to figure in the meeting. Mr Antony will be accompanied by the Defence Secretary, DRDO Chief and senior armed forces officials.