India and Japan Announce 'Year of Shared Horizons' for 2027
India and Japan will celebrate 2027 as the 'Year of Shared Horizons' to commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on July 2, 2026. The two governments, in coordination with stakeholders, will organize ten commemorative programs across both nations, with a strong focus on youth participation.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated, "Looking ahead to 2027, which marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between our two countries, the two sides have agreed to a list of commemorative outcomes and events with a strong focus on youth to celebrate this milestone in a befitting manner. We will celebrate the year 2027 as the India-Japan Year of Shared Horizons." He also noted that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Japan next year for the annual summit.
Key Events and Initiatives
The week of April 28, 2027, will be designated as India-Japan Week, featuring coordinated outreach activities. A logo and theme competition will invite citizens of both countries to envision the future of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.
Building on the popularity of Japanese manga, anime, and gaming among Indian youth, IMAGE-75 will be launched to promote people-to-people exchanges and co-creation in animation, gaming, comics, and immersive technologies. The second edition of the Ideathon will bring together Japanese and Indian students to explore innovative ideas across several Indian cities.
RASA-75, a year-long arts and culture journey, will celebrate the traditions of both countries, involving performing, visual, and traditional arts practitioners. A Buddhist delegation from Japan will undertake a spiritual tour of important Buddhist sites in India to highlight civilizational ties and promote Buddhist tourism.
Sports and Cricket Initiatives
SPORT-75 will promote exchanges in sports, noting India's ambition to host the 2036 Olympics. An India-Japan Friendship Cricket Match will be held during the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 as a curtain-raiser. Cricket Kizuna-75 will send two Indian coaches to Japan for a week-long cricket bootcamp. The India-Japan Sports Week in February 2027 will include an Ekiden relay event in Delhi-NCR.
Business and Science Collaborations
Business Connect-75 will link Indian business clusters with Japanese regional banks through roadshows, roundtables, and curated interactions. Mirai-Vigyan-75 will feature commemorative events in science and technology, including the LUPEX lunar mission collaboration, IIT-H Japan Day, and the India-Japan Universities Forum.
The two governments will also accelerate state-prefecture partnerships and support the India-Japan Governors' Network for Friendship and Exchange.
Prime Minister Modi expressed happiness about the upcoming anniversary, stating, "We are very happy that next year we are going to celebrate the 75th anniversary of India-Japan diplomatic relations. On this important occasion, we will further deepen our mutual connection through culture, tourism and creative economy cooperation."
The announcements came during Japanese PM Takaichi's visit to India from July 1 to 3, 2026.
