India and Japan will celebrate 2027 as the ‘India–Japan Year of Shared Horizons’ to commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations. The year-long celebrations will feature cultural, youth, sports, Buddhist tourism and creative collaborations, reinforcing the Special Strategic and Global Partnership between the two countries.
Key Highlights
- 2027 declared as the ‘India–Japan Year of Shared Horizons’.
- India–Japan Week to be observed from April 28, 2027.
- Year-long programmes to promote youth, culture, sports and Buddhist tourism.
- Cricket Kizuna-75 and IMAGE-75 initiatives to strengthen people-to-people ties.
India and Japan have announced that 2027 will be celebrated as the ‘India–Japan Year of Shared Horizons’ to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the year-long celebrations will showcase the deepening Special Strategic and Global Partnership through cultural, educational and youth-focused initiatives.
As part of the celebrations, April 28, 2027 will be observed as India–Japan Week, with coordinated outreach programmes taking place across both countries. A logo and theme competition will also invite citizens of India and Japan to envision the future of bilateral relations.
To strengthen people-to-people exchanges, the two countries will launch IMAGE-75: Manga, Anime, Gaming, encouraging collaboration in animation, gaming, comics and immersive technologies. The initiative builds on the growing popularity of Japanese manga and anime among Indian youth and India’s expanding creative technology ecosystem.
The celebrations will also highlight the two nations’ shared civilisational heritage. A Buddhist delegation from Japan will visit India to undertake a spiritual tour of important Buddhist sites, promoting Buddhist tourism and reinforcing the historic cultural links between the two countries. In addition, RASA-75 will showcase performing arts, visual arts and traditional cultural exchanges throughout the year.
Sports will also play a major role in the commemorative programme. Under SPORT-75, India and Japan will promote sporting cooperation, while an India–Japan Friendship Cricket Match will be organised during the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026. The Cricket Kizuna-75 initiative will also see Indian coaches conduct a week-long cricket training camp for aspiring Japanese players, encouraging greater youth engagement through sports.
Conclusion
The India–Japan Year of Shared Horizons reflects the growing depth of bilateral relations, with both countries using the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties to expand cooperation in culture, youth exchanges, sports, tourism and creative industries while strengthening long-term strategic friendship.
