New Delhi

India and Japan will celebrate 2027 as the India-Japan Year of Shared Horizons to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Wednesday.

According to the MEA, the two governments, along with stakeholders from both countries, will organise ten commemorative programmes throughout the year, with a special emphasis on youth participation.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the anniversary celebrations would focus on strengthening people-to-people ties and expanding cooperation across multiple sectors.

"Looking ahead to 2027, which marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries, both sides have agreed on a series of commemorative initiatives with a strong youth focus. We will celebrate 2027 as the India-Japan Year of Shared Horizons. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has also invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Japan next year for the annual summit, which will take place during these celebrations," Misri said.

As part of the commemorative calendar, the week beginning April 28, 2027, will be observed as India-Japan Week, featuring coordinated outreach programmes in both countries.

The two governments will also launch a logo and theme competition, inviting citizens of India and Japan to present their vision for the future of the Special Strategic and Global Partnership.

Recognising the growing popularity of Japanese manga, anime and gaming among Indian youth, alongside India's expanding animation and gaming industry, the two countries will introduce IMAGE-75, an initiative aimed at promoting collaboration and people-to-people exchanges in creative industries.

The second edition of the India-Japan Ideathon will also be organised, bringing together students from both countries to generate ideas for the future of bilateral relations. Academics, industry representatives, policymakers and young participants will contribute policy recommendations for advancing cooperation.

To strengthen cultural engagement, the two countries will launch RASA-75, a year-long arts and cultural programme featuring performing arts, visual arts, traditional crafts and collaborations between artists and young creators.

As part of efforts to highlight the shared Buddhist heritage, Japan will send a Buddhist delegation to India on a pilgrimage to important Buddhist sites, with the objective of promoting cultural links and encouraging Buddhist tourism.

Sports will also feature prominently in the anniversary celebrations through the SPORT-75 initiative. Ahead of the 75th anniversary year, an India-Japan Friendship Cricket Match will be held during the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026.

The two countries will also launch Cricket Kizuna-75, under which Indian cricket coaches will conduct a week-long training camp for aspiring Japanese players. Additionally, India-Japan Sports Week will be organised in February 2027, featuring several sporting events, including an Ekiden relay race in the Delhi-NCR region.

To deepen economic engagement, Business Connect-75 will facilitate direct partnerships between Indian business clusters and Japanese regional banks and enterprises through roadshows, business meetings, industrial visits and networking events.

In the field of science and technology, Mirai-Vigyan-75 will showcase collaborative initiatives, including the joint Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) mission, IIT-H Japan Day and the India-Japan Universities Forum.

The two governments also plan to strengthen state-prefecture partnerships by encouraging greater interaction between local governments, promoting mutual visits and expanding initiatives such as the India-Japan Governors' Network for Friendship and Exchange.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the initiative, saying that the landmark anniversary would provide an opportunity to further deepen bilateral cooperation through culture, tourism and the creative economy.

READ MORE: A Muslim village proves cleanliness, harmony, development go together

The announcement comes during Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's official visit to India from July 1 to 3 at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi.