Asian Confluence

Indo Japan Ties: History & Future

Date: Thu Aug 13, 2015 - Thu Aug 13, 2015
Location: Asian Confluence Centre, Shillong , Hosts: Asian Confluence

Indo Japan relationship is emerging as one of the cornerstones of overall peace and development of the entire East Asia. To take this relationship forward, Asian Confluence organised an interactive discussion led by Mr. Tsutomu Sato, Indologist, Historian and Chairman of Japan India Tourism Promotion Committee, to foster people to people interaction between the two countries and deliberate on key issues.

Mr. Sato in his keynote address talked extensively on the cultural similarities between India and Japan. He gave a historical presentation where he emphasised that although both the countries made rapid progress in political, cultural and economic domain (superstructure), the third space i.e. people to people contact (understructure) is still lacking and needs more attention. He further added that for years the relationship was solely based on Buddhism. He made a comparative analysis on the histories of both the countries and reckons that the time has come to take the relationship forward. Sato feels that India as a big nation of abundant young population, expert in IT and biotechnology and an exporter of different skilled manpower to other countries can learn more from the Japanese way of primary education, although Japan respects India. “Japan is a small country with fewer resources. It emphasizes on common people’s education, ‘Terakoya’, with government support.

The modern generation is more inclined towards westernization and it is where Sato is concentrating all his efforts to promote exchange Indian and Japanese tourism and to perceive the historical ‘understructure’ that built the relationship of between both these countries. The event saw a host of eminent guests which included Dr. Gangumei Kamei, Hon. Member North East Council as the guest of honour and Ambassador Rudi Warjri, IFS Retd., who chaired the discussion.