This article covers cultural, educational and people-to-people links between India and Japan, including their historical connections, cultural agreements, student and research exchanges, non-governmental dialogue forums and the Indian community in Japan. Its source is the MEA bilateral brief of June 2026.
Historical and cultural connections
According to the MEA brief of June 2026, friendship between the two countries has a long history rooted in spiritual affinity and cultural and civilisational ties. The brief cites a notable early connection in 752 AD, when the Indian monk Bodhisena performed the consecration of the Great Buddha at Todaiji Temple in Nara.
In modern times, the brief names Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore, JRD Tata, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Rash Behari Bose and Justice Radha Binod Pal as figures who strengthened popular imagination. It says that Justice Pal's dissent at the War Crimes Tribunal remains deeply respected in Japan.
The Japanese painters Yoshida Hiroshi and Fuku Akino based their artworks on Indian landscapes and, according to the brief, contributed to the 20th century art movements in both countries. The Japan-India Association, established in 1903, is Japan's oldest international friendship body.
Cultural agreements
A Memorandum of Cooperation on Cultural Exchange, signed in 2025, provides for cooperation in art and culture through exhibitions, museum collaborations and the exchange of best practices in cultural preservation. During PM Kishida's visit to India in March 2023, the two sides renewed the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on Japanese Language.
Education and research exchanges
The brief describes education cooperation as taking place through partnerships between education and research institutions, student and teacher exchanges, government scholarships and the promotion of Japanese language education in India. The partnerships range from liberal arts to management and business studies, legal studies, international studies, linguistics and STEM, including emerging frontier technologies.
The brief names these exchange programmes and figures:
- the LOTUS Programme, launched in 2024, which has enabled exchanges of over 300 students and researchers per year
- over 100 ongoing research projects between leading academic institutions of both countries
- the Sakura program, a short-term student exchange programme that enables over 300 students to visit Japan per year
Through programmes such as the Sakura Science program, joint projects between the Department of Science and Technology and the Japan Society for Promotion of Science, and various fellowship programmes, Indian students and researchers gain exposure to research at Japanese institutes.
Japanese students have been coming to Indian universities for various courses, including Hindi language courses. Departments of Buddhist studies at Japanese universities also offer modules on Sanskrit, Pali, Indian Buddhism and Indian religions and philosophy as part of their curriculum.
Track 1.5 dialogue
The brief notes that businesses, academia and think tanks have contributed to bilateral relations in recent years through Track 1.5 mechanisms. These include:
- the India-Japan Forum (IJF), a dialogue platform led by MEA and the Aspen Centre, whose 4th round was held in New Delhi on 7-8 December 2025
- the Kizuna Conclave in the North-Eastern Region of India, organised by the Asian Confluence with government support; the Kizuna Sixth India Japan Intellectual Conclave was held in February 2026 in Meghalaya
- the India-Japan Indo-Pacific Forum, convened by the Delhi Policy Group (DPG) and the Japan Institute for International Affairs (JIIA); its 8th round was held on 4-5 November 2025 in Tokyo
Indian community in Japan
As of the brief, around 59,000 Indians live in Japan. The brief notes a change in recent years in the composition of the community, with the arrival of many professionals, including IT professionals and engineers. Indian jewellery merchants from Gujarat and Maharashtra are also a prominent group in cities such as Kobe.