Projects

FY2010

Strengthening the Intellectual Foundations for Contemporary Japanese Studies in India - Phase Ⅱ

Project Contents
Although the importance of Japan-India relations is becoming more widely recognized, there are few opportunities for people in India to research issues affecting the two countries and deepen their understanding of Japanese affairs. In light of this situation, the Foundation supported a three-year project (Phase I; 2007-2010) aimed at arousing interest in Japan within India, and supported establishment of a Japan Chair at the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) that conducts research into contemporary Japan and acts as an information hub on Japan-India policy issues. Through the course of these three years, the Japan Chair at ICRIER, has become recognized among the Indian intellectuals and is growing to be a frequent destination of people concerned from Japan. However, as the flow of exchange between the government and bureaucrats of the two countries remains limited, a platform for Track II intellectual exchange and network formation is still required. Hence, there is still great need to promote the activities of the Japan Chair.

This project will inherit and expand upon the results obtained in Phase I and strengthen the research platform in Japan. By so doing, the project aims to promote understanding of Japan in India and contribute to advancing mutual understanding between the two countries. In addition, the project will collect and disseminate research and information on issues affecting Japan-India relations as a means to further establish the Japan Chair as a hub for research and exchange into Japan-India relations. By expanding the target regions to cover regional towns and cities, the project aims to dramatically increase understanding of Japan in the vast country of India.
Implementation Plan
In the first year of the three-year project, public seminars and roundtable discussions will be held. Furthermore, support will be provided for Indian researchers studying issues affecting Japan-India relations. Details of the researchers' activities will be disseminated widely, on the project Web site and elsewhere. In addition, a public seminar will be held in Mumbai with cooperation from local counterparts. Details of the activities follow.
  • Public seminars/roundtable discussions
    • (1) Public seminars:
      Public seminars will be held in New Delhi and Mumbai, with distinguished experts from Japan acting as lecturers. Around 50 persons from concerned authorities, business organizations, and researchers from research institutions are scheduled to attend.
    • (2) Roundtable discussions:
      Roundtable discussions will be held in New Delhi, each to be attended by around 30 persons concerned. Japanese lecturers will be invited through related agencies within India inclusive of the Japanese embassy.
  • Support for Japanese Studies (throughout the year):
    Support will be provided for two research projects chosen from submissions to an open application at Indian universities and research institutions. The relevant researchers will mainly carry out their research works within India but will also be provided with opportunities to conduct surveys in Japan over the course of one week.
  • Information dissemination:
    Reports on various events and summaries of the results of research activities will be published in print and via the project Web site. The content will be based largely on the above activities.
Project Results
Seminar held in Mumbai

Seminar held in Mumbai

This project seeks to promote understanding of contemporary Japan in India and deepen mutual comprehension between India and Japan through the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), the grant recipient. This year, a roundtable meeting and public seminar were held.

The roundtable was held in November 2010 in New Delhi and focused on Japan-India relations following the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Shingh's visit to Japan. The public seminar held in February 2011 in Mumbai was the first of its kind and was organized around the topic, "Japanese Firms in the Indian Financial Sector: Trends and Prospects."
 

Implementing Agency Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations Year Implementation year(1/3)
Project Type Self OperatedGrantCommissionedOther Year project budget implementation 2,858,080yen