Japan Habba 2025

CELEBRATING INDO-JAPANESE TIES

- Mohammed Badrul Alam

India and Japan have a shared cultural history marked by the spread of Buddhism in the Land of the Rising Sun in the 6th century AD. Since then, the bilateral relations have been on an upswing trend. In the post-World War II phase and with the promulgation of a new constitution in both India and Japan, the relationship has moved forward with the signing of the Peace Treaty and the formal establishment of diplomatic relations on 28 April 1952. Fast forward, the early period of 21st century also witnessed cementing of deep bond with the hosting of Festival of Japan in India in 2007 with Shinzo Abe as the Prime minister taking a personal interest in enhancing the ties and in cultivating personal chemistry with his counterparts in India during his two stints in office, 2006-2007 and again from 2012-2020.

Other Japanese prime ministers in recent times, such as Yoshiro Mori (2000-2001), Junichiro Koizumi (2001-2006), and Fumio Kishida (2021-2024), have also invested heavily in the promotion of friendship and cooperation with India at myriad levels. All of these initiatives have yielded significant outputs in areas ranging from energy security, environmental protection, climate change, disaster management, cultural and academic exchanges, people-to-people contacts, and easing of visa regulations by India for Japanese nationals etc.

Japan’s generous financial support to India in the form of ODA (Official Development Assistance) in India’s multiple sectors ranging from academic and cultural collaboration to underground metro construction, introduction of Bullet Trains, forestation drive, and sustainable development, has also contributed immensely in cementing the bilateral relations and in taking them forward.

Showcasing the diverse splendours of Japan Habba 2025