The latest news highlights a significant milestone in the diplomatic relations shared by India and Japan as the President of India embarked on a recent journey to the East Asian nation. This visit comes as a historic event, marking the first of its kind in nearly three decades. The last Indian President to grace Japanese soil with his presence was Ramaswamy Venkatraman in 1990.
Historic Presidential Visit
This trip adds a new page to the annals of history, with the Indian President attending the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace, following a gap of 29 years. During his stay, the President also made several significant visits to symbolically important locations. He visited the Tsukiji Hongwanji Buddhist Temple and planted a sapling from Bodh Gaya, a gesture that signifies the growing ties between the two nations.
Adding further symbolic depth to his visit, the President interacted with a delegation from the Gotemba Pagoda at the Shinto Meiji Shrine. The Shrine is more than just a religious point, as it stands as a testament to the transformative Meiji restoration period that carved out modern Japan in 1868. The President also admired the tranquil beauty of Mt. Fuji from the Peace Park in Gotemba City, where he paid respects to the chalky stupa – a symbol of the park housing Buddha’s ashes presented by late Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
Engagement with Indian Diaspora and Cultural Initiatives
In an engaging session, the President addressed members of the Indian diaspora in Tokyo, enlisting their support in creating a more progressive and prosperous India. One of the key facets of his tour was laying the foundation stone for the Sri Sathya Sai Sanathana Samskruti Project at Sai no Sato, Kakegawa, Japan. In the future, Sai no Sato is poised to become a temple promoting Indian traditional culture, echoing the grandeur of edifices like Akshardham and Swaminarayan Temple.
| Location | Event |
|---|---|
| Imperial Palace | Attended enthronement ceremony of Emperor Naruhito |
| Tsukiji Hongwanji Buddhist Temple | Planted a sapling from Bodh Gaya |
| Shinto Meiji Shrine | Interacted with the delegation from Gotemba Pagoda |
| Sai no Sato, Kakegawa, Japan | Laid foundation stone for Sri Sathya Sai Sanathana Samskruti Project |
Strengthening India-Japan Relations
India and Japan share a durable bond, reflected through several areas of cooperation encompassing defence, science, trade and more. The relationship between the two countries was elevated to ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’ in 2014, underpinning the mutual respect and importance they accord each other on the global stage. Transport infrastructure exemplifies one such area of strong collaboration, with the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Railway (MAHSR) project being a significant testament to this.
In October 2018, during the Prime Minister of India’s trip to Japan, an “India-Japan Digital Partnership” (I-JDP) was launched, bolstering existing areas of cooperation while paving the way for new initiatives within the scope of S&T/ICT cooperation, primarily focusing on “Digital ICT Technologies”. Furthermore, since August 2011, the India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has been in effect, covering a wide spectrum of aspects from trade in goods and services to intellectual property rights and custom procedures.
Military exercises such as JIMEX, SHINYUU Maitri, and Dharma Guardian are regularly conducted between India and Japan’s defence forces. They also collaborate with the USA to participate in the Malabar exercise, reinforcing their dedication to joint defence capabilities and inter-operability.
Last Modified: February 6, 2024