IntroductionIndia and Japan signed a peace treaty on 28th April,1952. Article 1 of this treaty defines the relationship between the two nations as one of ‘firm and p

India and Japan signed a peace treaty on 28th April,1952. Article 1 of this treaty defines the relationship between the two nations as one of ‘firm and perpetual amity.’ This year marks the 72nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations, underscoring decades of strategic partnership and mutual respect. Expanding upon this robust foundation, India-Japan relations have reached unprecedented heights, solidifying Japan as one of India’s most trusted and dependable partners.

The history of India-Japan relations is rich and enduring, rooted in strong cultural and civilizational ties. The earliest recorded interaction between the two nations occurred in 752 AD, when Bodhisena, an Indian monk, performed the sacred eye-opening ceremony for the statue of Lord Buddha at Todaiji temple in Nara. In contemporary times, notable figures such as Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Sister Nivedita and Judge Radha Binod Pal, are among other Indians closely associated with Japan.

When India gained independence from the UK on 15th August,1947, Japan was among the first nations to recognize Indian sovereignty. India also assisted Japan in its post war recovery by supplying iron-ore. Japan reciprocated by 

, starting in 1958, after Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi’s visit to India in 1957.

During the Cold war era, relations between India and Japan were somewhat constrained due to bloc politics. Japan, being a close US ally, and India pursuing non-alignment policy stance, often leaned towards the Soviet Union. Nonetheless, from the 1980s onward, efforts were made to improve bilateral relations, evidenced by Japanese companies entering the Indian market and laying the groundwork for improved economic ties between the two nations.

Relation ebbed down again when India conducted Pokhran II nuclear tests, leading Japan to impose 

. These included cutting down on economic assistance and suspending political exchanges between the two nations. These sanctions were lifted three years later when Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori visited India, leading to the establishment of ‘India-Japan global Partnership.’ In 2005, PM Koizumi visited India, and the relationship was elevated to a ‘Strategic and Global Partnership.’ Later, in 2014, during Prime Minister’s visit to Japan in the second tenure of Shinzo Abe as Japan’s Prime Minister, a ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’ was established signifying the deepening of ties between the largest and the oldest democracies of Asia.

The multifaceted and multilevel partnership between India and Japan encompasses cooperation in various fields including but not limited to economy, defence, technology, culture, and people to people exchanges. In economic terms, the bilateral trade volume, Japan’s assistance, and infrastructure investment in India have all been rising. Two notable examples of Japanese investments in India include Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) and the Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC). In 2022, during his visit to India in March, Fumio Kishida announced an investment target of 

 (Rs 3,20,000 crore) in India by 2027. India continues to be the largest recipient of Japan’s Official development Assistance (ODA).

Shared strategic interests drive the two nations to work closely for securing an Indo-Pacific which is free, open, safe, stable, peaceful and prosperous. Defense exercises (

Malabar exercise (Naval Exercise), ‘Veer Guardian’ and SHINYUU Maitri (Air Force)

, defense dialogues and technology transfer enhance the cooperation. Technological collaboration is another main aspect of the partnership, with initiatives focusing on areas such as renewable energy, digital technology, space exploration, reliable supply chains for semi-conductors and other critical technologies. India and Japan have jointly worked on projects like the High-Speed Rail (HSR) corridor and the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), demonstrating their firm commitment to innovation and sustainable development. India-Japan also exchanged views in the areas of 

 relating to nuclear, chemical and biological domains, outer space security, non-proliferation issues, conventional weapons and export control at The 10th Round of India-Japan Consultations on Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Export Control was held at Tokyo on 24 April, 2024.

Cultural and people-to-people contacts play a pivotal role in fostering mutual understanding, trust and comfort between the two nations. Organisation like The Japan Foundation and India-Japan Association promote language exchange, academic collaborations and cultural exchange programs. Japanese animation, Anime has gained massive 

 in the recent years. Similarly, popularity of Indian mainstream movies in Japan has increased leaps and bounds.

Both India and Japan are working closely through various multilateral forums such as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), ASEAN Regional Forum, East Asia Summit, G20, G4 and BIMSTEC. They collaborate closely on security and strategic issues, regional integration and economic development which underscores their mutual desire to promote peace, stability and prosperity in and beyond the region.

Role of Japan’s former Prime Minister, the late Mr. Shinzo Abe

Shinzo Abe played an extraordinary role in strengthening bilateral relations between India and during his tenure as the prime minister. His speech on the ‘Confluence of the Two Seas’ in the Indian parliament in 2007 not only established the importance of the Indo-Pacific region, but also underscored the importance he attached to India. Not only did economic cooperation and infrastructure development projects receive a boost, but his efforts in building personal rapport with the Prime minister Narendra Modi helped in building trust and fostering understanding between the two nations. Strategic partnerships and regional, as well as global engagement through platforms such as 

 and G4, brought the countries closer. Last but not least, Abe also stressed on cultural and people to people exchanges between India and Japan to deepen friendship between the two nations. Overall, his leadership played an instrumental role in elevating the India Japan relationship to new heights. In 2021, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award in India, for ‘excellence in public affairs.’ His legacy as a visionary leader will endure, having left an indelible mark on the India-Japan relationship and the broader Indo-Pacific region.

Despite the overall positive trajectory of this bilateral relationship, several challenges exist in India-Japan relations. Firstly, trade imbalance, where Japan exports more to India that it imports, creating a trade deficit for India. Bridging this gap and realizing the untapped potential for economic cooperation is very important for both the countries. Aligning strategic interests and addressing geopolitical sensitivities in different ways is also a challenge that needs to be handled delicately. Infrastructure gaps, delays, as well as implementation issues have been a challenge. Additionally, addressing the nuances of cultural and linguistic differences, as well as differences in business cultures, and moving ahead despite these differences, pose challenges. Sustained efforts are required from both India and Japan including policy reforms, diplomatic engagement and closer cooperation across various sectors. Despite the obstacle, common values and shared strategic interests provide a solid foundation for overcoming the challenges and deepening the partnership.

Looking ahead, India and Japan can bolster their relation by prioritizing the key areas of cooperation. Enhancing economic ties by diversifying investments and trade, Expediting the implementation of infrastructure projects are imperative. Additionally, building a business environment of trust, comfort and understanding is crucial. Promoting cultural exchanges, strengthening strategic partnerships in defense and security, fostering innovation and technology collaboration will deepen mutual understanding. Moreover, joint efforts in renewable energy, environmental conservation and regional forums will contribute towards peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Lastly, there is a need for both sides to realize the true importance of each other. As India’s external affairs minister S. Jaishankar said at the Raisina Roundtable event in Tokyo in March ‘It is important that Japan today appreciates the pace of change in India’. Development efforts, maritime security and safety have become pressing concerns. It is only through increased number of effective initiatives that the world will see how India and Japan support each other in achieving shared goals.

72nd Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between India and Japan

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