India and the Dynamics of World Politics

Chapter 3

India-Japan Relations

It was in the 6th century when the exchange between Japan and India is said to have begun with introduction of Buddhism to Japan. Indian culture, filtered through Buddhism, has had a great impact on Japanese culture. However, direct exchange, began only in the Meiji era (1868-1912), when Japan started with its process of modernization. This era is the source of the Japanese people’s sense of closeness to India. During Indian struggle of independence also, the Japanese provided support and assistance to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army (INA). After World War II, in 1949 Japan and India signed a peace treaty and established diplomatic relations on 28th April, 1952. This treaty was one of the ...