79th Independence Day of India: Connecting Himalayas with Mount Fuji

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On the occasion of India’s 79th Independence Day, I extend warm greetings to Their Majesties, the Emperor and the Empress of Japan, to the Government and the people of Japan, to members of the Indian community, and to all friends of India in Japan.

As India progresses through the Amrit Kaal, the 25-year period leading up to the centenary of its independence, we do so with pride in our democratic traditions, confidence in our developmental strides, and a firm commitment to global cooperation. Our journey is not only a national one, it is also shared with our partners, foremost among them being Japan, with whom we enjoy a Special Strategic and Global Partnership rooted in shared values, mutual respect, and a common vision for peace, stability, and prosperity.

HE Ambassador Sibi George (©Embassy of India)

Growing from Strength to Strength

India and Japan are civilizational countries whose relationship goes back millenia. The legend of Bodhidharma, an Indian monk whose legacy lives on in Japan as Daruma, embodies the spiritual and philosophical bridge between our nations. Yoga has found deep resonance in Japan. The International Day of Yoga 2025 was celebrated at Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple in Tokyo, where over 2,500 people participated. We were honoured by the presence of Madam Yoshiko Ishiba, spouse of Prime Minister HE Mr Shigeru Ishiba, and Madam Satoko Iwaya, spouse of Foreign Minister HE Mr Takeshi Iwaya, whose participation reflected the deep people-to-people bonds that unite us.

Building on this foundation, India–Japan ties have grown from strength to strength in recent times. Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister HE Mr Shigeru Ishiba met twice in the last one year on the sidelines of ASEAN Summit in Laos in October 2024 and again at the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada in June 2025. Both our countries are now making intensive preparations for the next Annual Summit which will take our relationship to new heights.

High level contacts with Japan included a productive visit to India by the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan HE Mr Fukushiro Nukaga in May 2025. External Affairs Minister HE Dr S Jaishankar met with Foreign Minister HE Takeshi Iwaya twice this year, in January and July 2025. These high-level engagements are critical in shaping our strategic outlook and ensuring a rules-based and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

Vibrant Economic Partnership

India and Japan share a vibrant economic partnership, with around 1,500 Japanese companies investing across key sectors like electronics, renewables, and digital tech. India is fast emerging as a global manufacturing and export base for Japanese firms, backed by strong fundamentals and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes. High level visits from several Japanese industrial associations to India this year have further cemented this relationship. Economic security is fast becoming a key aspect our cooperation, especially with a launch of Dialogue on Economic Security last year.

The year 2025-26 is a historic milestone in our science and technology ties. Our two countries are marking this year as the Year of Science, Technology and Innovation Exchange. This year-long celebration reflects our shared commitment to leveraging our respective scientific advancements for mutual benefit.

*The national flags of India and Japan.*

Several developments underscore the growing momentum in this domain. The Indian Beamline at High Energy Accelerator Research Organization has been extended until 2029, with expanded access to additional beamlines, enabling advanced research in high-energy physics and material science. ISRO and JAXA are jointly working on the LUPEX (Chandrayaan-5) lunar mission, following the successful landings of both countries on the Moon in recent years. The unveiling of the bust of Bharat Ratna Sir CV Raman at Shimane University was a symbolic moment, celebrating our shared scientific legacy. The discovery of the Raman Effect by Sir CV Raman laid the foundation for technologies that Japan has globally led in, particularly in Raman Spectroscopy.

Established Defence Cooperation

The Defence cooperation with Japan is on an upward trajectory with enhancement of scale and scope of existing military exercises and orientation. In addition to 2+2 dialogue in August 2024, Defence Ministers HE Shri Rajnath Singh and HE Mr Gen Nakatani have met at New Delhi on 05 May, 2025. There have been high level visits of delegation along with regular military exercises such as Dharma Guardian and Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JAIMEX). Further, India and Japan are actively pursuing the case for sale and technology transfer of the Unified Complex Radio Antenna (UNICORN) masts to India.

India's presence at Expo 2025 Osaka has been a defining aspect of our engagement this year. The India Pavilion – Bharat showcases India’s progress across multiple domains such as science, space, digital transformation, yoga, Ayurveda, textiles, crafts and food. Cultural programs, business seminars, Prefecture Day celebrations, and ODOP (One District One Product) displays have all contributed to drawing thousands of Japanese visitors to the Pavilion.

Our regional cooperation has also witnessed sustained growth. Governors of several Japanese Prefectures led delegations to India over the last one year, and were reciprocated by high level visits by Chief Ministers of Indian states to Japan. Celebrations of Prefecture Days at both the Embassy of India and the India Pavilion – Bharat at Osaka Expo 2025 have added new dimensions to India–Japan relations. Institutional frameworks such as the partnerships between Toyama and Andhra Pradesh, Yamanashi and Uttar Pradesh, and Shizuoka and Gujarat, exemplify the success of our endeavour to take our diplomacy from Tokyo and New Delhi to the Prefectures and States.

Partners for Peace, Prosperity and Stability

While the bilateral partnership is blooming, the relationship between India and Japan transcends the bilateral realm and is an important factor for peace, prosperity and stability in the wider Indo-Pacific. We cooperate in multiple multilateral and plurilateral forums including the QUAD, G-20 and the G4 where our interests and values align.

As we celebrate the 79th Independence Day of India, we also celebrate the enduring and evolving partnership between India and Japan. With scientific cooperation deepening, cultural bridges strengthening, and our strategic vision aligned, I am confident that the India–Japan partnership under the theme of "Connecting Himalayas with Mount Fuji” will continue to flourish in the years to come.

Author: HE Ambassador Sibi George, Embassy of India in Japan

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