India-Japan Relations: Buddhism brought two nations closer

BY ANWARUL HODA

India and Japan are the traditional ally and share a very strong cultural bond. From the early period of history, mainly after the inception of Buddhism both the countries are engaged in exchanging the cultural values.

Buddhism is indeed a binding factor between the duos which spread from India via China and Korea. The people of India and Japan are guided by the common Buddhism heritage and has many similarities in preserving the ideas like diversity, democracy, and tolerance.

In pan Asia region, India and Japan are two largest democracies and equally aspiring in developing a higher degree of economic and politic interest throughout the globe. The friendship between both the countries is considered as strongest among all other Asian nations and occasionally referred as Japanese-Indian Brotherhood.

Historically, civilizational ties go back to 6^th century when Korean monks introduced Buddhism to Japan and later in 736 AD, an Indian monk Bodhisena invited by Japanese emperor Shomu to spread words of Sanskrit and establish Huyan school of Buddhism thought. History also recalls him for performing eye-opening of the great Buddha built in Todaji which has great spiritual recognition.

Buddhism and the intrinsically linked Indian culture had a great impact on Japanese culture development which is still felt today. The monks and scholars have a great impact on cultural ties and expansion which resulted in a natural sense of friendliness between the two nations.

The Japanese culture also widely projected in India. The Japanese cuisines and music are very popular and spreading gradually among urbanites and young people. There are also plenty of Japanese resides in India and working in different corporates.

In the similar pattern, Indian movies are also endorsed in Japan. People in Japan are fond of Rajnikanth and Tamil movies as well. There are plenty of famous video games in Japan which characterise Indian figures. The Indian yogi and pacifist Dhalsim is one of the most popular characters in the Japanese video game series Street Fighter

Japan has also supported the reconstruction of Nalanda University, an ancient Buddhist Centre of learning and has agreed to provide financial assistance. Japan with the inherent cultural interest approached the Indian government with a proposal in past.

India during the World War 2, under British colonial rule, was the enemy of Japan. But after the independence of India, both the nation maintained the historic and traditional bond.