INDO-JAPANESE CULTURAL TIES

Unlike any other country ,India shares a special relationship with Japan. Now it's not only limited to Japanese companies securing market in India but it's about the cultural exchanges between the two. This relation ages back to the 6th Century when Buddhism  was introduced in Japan .Buddhism brought about substantial changes in political, technical and cultural structures and revolutionised life in Japan altogether. Since then both the countries have enjoyed friendship and benefitted from it. The Japan-India Association which was set up in 1903 is the oldest inter at friendship body in Japan. Dispute free bilateral trades have been the strength of this friendship. 

    In 2007,both the countries celebrated the 50th anniversary of Indo-Japan cultural agreement and marked the year as the Indo-Japan friendship and tourism-promotion. To understand India more and increase the liking , Japan holds festival named 'Namaste India' every year and is now the largest festival of its kind in the world. Several agreements have been signed between the two countries on digital infrastructure , military supplies , railway supplies, technology cooperation etc.

'Namaste India' festival held in Japan

    Japanese diplomats and several leaders at position have often visited India to strengthen relation and so did Indian leaders. Swami Vivekananda , Jawaharlal Nehru , Rabindranath Tagore , and our current PM Narendra Modi are the few notable leaders among many who admired Japanese culture and have spoken good of it.

Rabindranath Tagore in Japan

    At present there are more than 10000 Japanese nationals living in India and over 30,000 Indians residing in Japan. The Indian Community lives harmoniously with the neighbours and has developed relations with local governments to become valuable members of the Japanese community. Japanese people have often shown interest in Indian beliefs, cuisines, familial bonds and practices like their keen interest in yoga; and Indian cuisines like Chole Bhature , Curry and Naan and many would even amaze you with their Hindi Speaking Skills. Indians are also becoming more and more interested in Japanese Culture as it holds a reputation for being considered trendy and cool. Many young Indians form groups to discuss manga (Japanese comic art) and anime ( computer/handwritten animation). Events such as comic con are held in major cities where fans of comics and Japanese culture gather together to celebrate their common interest. India's interest in manga is popular enough for there to be Hindi translations of it available. Today, India is the largest democracy in Asia and Japan the most prosperous.

-Aanchal Singh