Japan has a shortage of experts on Indian politics, economics, society, and national security at a time when India has been gaining greater international prominence. In view of this situation, in fiscal 2006 the Sasakawa Pan Asian Fund gathered young Japanese scholars in the fields of politics, economics, law, and national security and launched the SPF India Study Group with Professor Hideki Esho of Hosei University as group chair and Professor Yonosuke Hara of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies acting as advisor.
In fiscal 2007, continuing on from the preceding year, the group held four workshops on such themes as India's economic policy, government financial systems, and pharmaceutical industry.
As another component of this program, within a study tour to Kerala, Mumbai, and Goa in August 2007, 10 members of the group visited leading think tanks, government ministries, manufacturing industries; presented their research findings at workshops; and exchanged opinions with local experts.
In January and February 2008, three group members also conducted surveys in India in line with their research themes. The group's research findings were compiled into 10 working papers and distributed to universities and research institutions in Japan and overseas.