New Delhi is witnessing a transformative phase in Japan-India relations, propelled by intensified security cooperation and cutting-edge technology partnerships. A comprehensive report highlights how these longstanding ties are evolving into a dynamic alliance amid shared strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific.
The report from Japan Forward underscores the surge in bilateral engagement, fueled by cultural exchanges, rising Japanese investments in India, and collaborative efforts in innovation and manufacturing. Both nations are united in their vision for a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region, especially as global uncertainties mount.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Japan in August 2025, then-Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba praised the remarkable progress over the past decade and called for deeper security ties. ‘Japan and India, sharing common values, bear the responsibility to uphold and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law in the Indo-Pacific,’ Ishiba stated, emphasizing joint efforts for regional peace and stability.
Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to elevating the ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership.’ Japan’s Foreign Ministry noted that by leveraging each other’s strengths, the two countries will forge complementary relations, addressing future challenges through shared social and economic values for generations to come.
In December 2025, Modi met with current Japanese Prime Minister Sane Takaiichi, agreeing to advance the India-Japan special strategic partnership further. Under the Japan-India Human Resource Exchange and Cooperation Action Plan, they set a target for 500,000 two-way exchanges over the next five years, bolstering cultural, educational, economic, and security bonds.
Modi outlined a roadmap focusing on investment, innovation, environment, technology, health, mobility, people-to-people contacts, and state-province partnerships. Recent initiatives reflect these pledges on the ground. The Japan National Tourism Organization’s ‘Japan Travel Fair 2026’ in India aims to strengthen cultural and tourism links.
Symbolizing growing camaraderie, Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi gifted a jersey of Japan’s national cricket team to India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during the Japan-India Strategic Dialogue. Japanese Embassy Minister Noriyaki Abe remarked that cricket, integral to Indian social life, is emerging as a strong bridge between the nations.
Economically, bilateral trade reached $25.17 billion in 2026, up from $21 billion in 2023-24. Over the past 25 years, Japan has been a top FDI source for India, investing nearly $43 billion. The report concludes that Japan-India relations have transcended traditional diplomacy, blossoming into a comprehensive partnership rooted in security, technology, and democratic values.