The Indian Prime Minister recently inaugurated the ‘Zen Garden – Kaizen Academy’ via a virtual event at the Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA) in Gujarat. This new feature has piqued the interest of many, given its significance in promoting Japan’s business culture in India. The mark it is anticipated to make on Indo-Japanese relations cannot be overestimated.
The Details of Zen Garden – Kaizen Academy
The Zen Garden – Kaizen Academy is a joint initiative by the Japan Information and Study Centre at the AMA and the Indo-Japan Friendship Association (IJFA), Gujarat. Supporting this endeavor is the Hyogo International Association (HIA) from Japan.
Decorated with traditional Japanese elements that include a Red Bridge Guzei, Shoji Interior, Glory of Tori, 3D art mural, fusion Chabutaro, Taki waterfall, Tsukubai basin, and Kimono scroll, the academy is a true representation of Japanese culture. Its primary goal is to introduce and familiarize India with Japan’s work culture, aiming to catalyze more robust business interactions between the two nations.
Understanding Zen and Kaizen
Zen is a Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism that emphasizes meditation and intuition as opposed to ritual worship or scripture study. It closely parallels the practice of meditation in Indian culture.
Kaizen, on the other hand, translates to ‘change for the better’ or ‘continuous improvement.’ It’s a business philosophy native to Japan that promotes small, gradual improvements in productivity. Kaizen involves every employee and aims to make the work environment more efficient.
Significance of India-Japan Friendship
The friendship between India and Japan was highlighted during a recent telephonic conversation between the two countries’ Prime Ministers. They discussed the importance of working together in creating resilient, diversified, and trustworthy supply chains, as well as confirming the importance of Japan-India bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
Moreover, cooperation in areas like 5G, submarine cables, strengthening industrial competitiveness and development projects in the northeastern state were discussed as potential partnership avenues.
Recent Developments Between India and Japan
India, Japan, and Australia have recently launched the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) to counter China’s supply chain dominance in the Indo-Pacific region. Japan has committed to several key infrastructure projects in India, with loans and a grant totaling around 233 billion yen.
In 2020, India and Japan signed a logistics agreement known as the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), allowing their forces to coordinate closely. They upgraded their relationship to ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’ in 2014, leading to the India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which covers various trade aspects, in 2011.
Defence Exercises Between India and Japan
To strengthen their bond, India and Japan conduct several bilateral defence exercises. These include JIMEX (naval), SHINYUU Maitri (Air Force), and Dharma Guardian (Army). In addition, they participate in the Malabar exercise, a naval operation involving the USA.
Way Forward
While India is receiving assistance from Japan, it should also consider how its components can reach Japan and reap dividends there. In lieu of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, it is essential for India to become self-sufficient and maintain good relations with other parts of the world, especially after COVID-19.
One potential path forward involves curbing Chinese influence in maritime areas. Through continued collaboration with Japan, India can potentially secure permanent membership in the UN Security Council.