Commemorating 70 Years of Friendship

The bond between Japan & India goes back in time; people from both countries have continued to strengthen this friendship. Over the years, both countries have nurtured this bond to create a symbiotic relationship that has helped in socio-cultural exchanges, educational projects, strategic strength, economic growth, that led to the overall progress of the countries and the region. As this friendship completes 70 years*, both nations continue to strongly support each other in various fields and are ready to together shape the future.

*India and Japan celebrated the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2022.

In 1949, the Indian Prime Minister, Nehru, presented the Ueno Zoological Gardens with an Indian elephant, Indira, named after his daughter.

Around 1943, when the war was raging, the Ueno Zoological Garden’s raptorial animals were disposed of because of the fear that they might escape. However, after the war, the Children's Conference, which was held as a part of the educational process in Taito Ward, resolved that they wanted elephants in Ueno. When Mr. Niyogi, an Indian trader, learnt of the children's movement, he offered his cooperation and handed over 1,500 essays and drawings of requests from the children to Prime Minister Nehru. Prime Minister Nehru was so moved by that he decided to send an elephant to Japan. On 1 October 1949, a ceremony was held at the Ueno Zoological Gardens to receive the elephant. This achievement was a beacon of hope for children and a bright topic in a dark world, and the whole of Japanese society rejoiced.

The Ueno Zoological Gardens is a historic zoo that opened in March 1882. It is located in Ueno Onshi Park, which is a popular place for cherry blossom viewing during the cherry blossom season. In summer, the beautiful lotus flowers of Shinobazu Pond can be seen. Despite its location in central Tokyo, the zoo is surrounded by lush greenery and nature.

It was the first zoo to open in Japan and has many of the oldest items in Japanese zoo history, including Japan's first monkey mountain, which was built in 1931. It is also one of the largest zoos in Japan, exhibiting 3,000 animals of about 300 species (as of 31 March 2022), including giant pandas, and boasts one of the highest numbers of visitors in Japan.

Bodhisena was born in south India. In his youth, he crossed the Himalayas and entered Tang and stayed in Mount Godai.

In 736 CE, on the request of the Japanese envoy to spread the teachings of the Buddha in Japan, Bodhisena went to Japan. There he taught Sanskrit and other Buddhist teachings to Japanese monks at the Da-an-ji Temple and was appointed as a priest in 751 CE.

The inauguration ceremony of the Todaiji Temple, which began to be built in 745 CE, under the decree of Emperor Shoumu, was held in 752. Bodhisena, inaugurated the statue of the Great Buddha. Bodhisena, along with emperor Shoumu, who initiated the construction of the Great Buddha, Gyouki, who encouraged its construction and Ryoben, the first Bessho of Todaiji is considered as the ‘Four Saints’ of the Todaiji Temple. 

Todaiji Temple

Todaiji Temple, was founded by Emperor Shoumu in the Nara period (710-794) to quell plagues and disasters. It is registered as a World Heritage Site and the Daibutsuden, one of the largest wooden buildings in the world, houses the Great Buddha. The Great Buddha is an impressive statue measuring 15 m high, with a face 3.2 m wide and hands 2.5 m in size. The Nandaimon gate, which is 25 metres long, is the largest gate in Japan and is designated as a National Treasure. Another must-visit spot is the Nigatsudo stage, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city of Nara.

It is believed from time immemorial, Japanese and Indians share many common Gods and Goddesses. One of the foremost examples is Goddess Saraswati, who is worshipped as Benzaiten in Japan. She is worshipped all over Japan as the Goddess of music, wealth, and wisdom. The Enoshima Shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture is the place where the goddess is enshrined.

With a history of more than 1,000 years, Enoshima Shrine is one of the leading tourist attractions in Kanagawa Prefecture. It is said to bring good luck in a variety of areas, including marriage, money and the arts, and is visited by many people from Japan and abroad.

In Houanden, the octagonal hall of Hetsumiya, one of the three shrines of the Enoshima Shrine, are enshrined Happi Benzaiten and Myouon Benzaiten, one of the three most famous Benzaiten in Japan. During the Edo period  (1603-1868 CE), the Enoshima Benzaiten attracted a great deal of devotion, and the shrine was very crowded with people making pilgrimages to Enoshima. It is still highly popular today.

Similarly, Goddess Lakshmi is known as Kishyoten and Indian God Ganesh is known as Shoten and God Bhrama as Bonten in Japan.

Rabindranath Tagore had a deep interest in Japan from early on, and was a close friend of Okakura Tenshin, thinker and others, who highly valued the Japanese sense of beauty and love of nature.

Tagore first visited Japan in June 1916, and the news of his arrival, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913, was widely reported through the major news organisations of the time, and a grand welcoming ceremony was organised. The welcoming ceremony was attended by 218 prominent people, including Prime Minister Okuma, cabinet ministers, scholars, religious figures and entertainers, and it is said that Prime Minister Okuma shed tears when he heard Tagore speak.

Tagore then spent two and a half months at Sankeien, where his own residence had been established by Sankei Hara (Tomitaro Hara), a Yokohama businessman and supporter of Japanese art. Through Sankei, Tagore met a couple of Japanese painters and admired their compositions and modes of expression that had not been seen in Indian painting until then. He created opportunities for exchange between Japanese and Indian painters, such as inviting Japanese painters to the academy founded by Tagore (now the National University Bisho Bharati) in order to contribute to the development of modern Indian painting.

During his stay in Japan, Tagore was exposed to Japan and its traditional culture, and was particularly struck by judo, ikebana (flower arrangement) and tea ceremony, and requested that these cultures be taught in his academy, which later sent a lecturer from Japan.

Sankeien

Sankeien was opened to the public on 1 May 1906 by Hara Sankei, a businessman who made his fortune in the silk trade. 175,000 m² of the park is skilfully laid out with historically valuable buildings relocated from Kyoto and Kamakura. During Sankei's lifetime, the garden was also a place for nurturing and supporting budding artists, and many works representing modern Japanese painting were created in the park. Known for its plum blossoms, cherry blossoms, azaleas and autumn foliage, it is also popular with foreigners and is one of the best places in Yokohama to experience Japanese culture.