How Regional Diplomacy Is Shaping the Next Chapter of India–Japan Ties

By. Siddharth Deshmukh

When we think of India-Japan diplomacy, our minds often leap to summits in New Delhi or Tokyo. Yet, some of the most durable partnerships are forged not only at the national level, but also in cities like Bhubaneswar, Pune, Nagoya, and Kobe. Sub-national diplomacy — the collaboration between states, prefectures, and cities is quietly becoming one of the strongest anchors of India–Japan relations.

Recognising the importance of sub-national diplomacy and people-to-people connect earlier this year, Indo-Japan Council has launched the IJBC Regional Roundtable Initiative, beginning in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The idea is simple: create platforms where Indian states and Japanese prefectures can meet, share priorities, and open doors for collaboration in business, education, and culture. It is diplomacy from the ground up — patient, practical, and people-focused.

Why Regional Diplomacy Matters

Global geopolitics is volatile. Trade wars, elections, and security crises can shift national policies overnight. Regional partnerships move differently. They are shaped by local economies, labour markets, and community needs.

This shift is no accident. On 29 August 2025, India and Japan signed the Joint Vision for the Next Decade, which explicitly highlights state–prefecture and city partnerships among its eight key lines of effort. The very next day, on 30 August 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with 16 Japanese Governors in Tokyo, underscoring that sub-national cooperation is now central to the bilateral agenda. In his address, he urged Indian states and Japanese prefectures to activate collaborations in trade, technology, culture, startups, mobility, infrastructure, and SMEs.

The message is clear: building bridges beyond borders is now a recognised pillar of the bilateral relationship.

Maharashtra has already demonstrated what such collaboration can achieve. The Pune–Okayama sister-city partnership, established in 2016, has become a model for cultural diplomacy and municipal cooperation. It shows how ties at the city level create long-term goodwill that outlasts political cycles.

Odisha, through the first IJBC Regional Roundtable in Bhubaneswar, is now signalling its readiness to join this momentum. With its coastline, mineral resources, and emerging IT sector, Odisha presents fertile ground for Japanese investment in green energy, ports, and industrial corridors.

Expanding the Map: Established and Future Corridors

Across India, several models already exist or are being explored.

• Established: Kyoto–Varanasi (heritage management), Ahmedabad–Kobe and Hamamatsu (industrial & cultural cooperation), Pune–Okayama (education & culture).

• Potential next-stage opportunities: Gujarat–Kansai (EV components, med-tech, logistics), Uttar Pradesh–Kyoto (heritage urbanism at state level), Northeast India–Hokkaidō (cold-chain, sustainable fisheries, disaster resilience under Act East Forum), and Tamil Nadu/Karnataka–Nagoya (advanced manufacturing, mobility, aerospace). A Maharashtra–Fukuoka corridor would make sense.

Together, these examples illustrate the deeper point: India–Japan ties are no longer limited to capitals; they are being built state by state, prefecture by prefecture.

IJBC’s Role

The Indo-Japan Business Council was created with one guiding principle: connectivity matters as much as strategy. Through initiatives like the Regional Roundtables, we aim to ensure that India–Japan collaboration is not only led by national governments but also nourished by universities, SMEs, state governments, and local communities.

When prefectural governors meet with Indian chief ministers, the language of cooperation becomes concrete: jobs are created, students are trained, and businesses are scaled. And when such partnerships multiply across regions, they add resilience and depth to the broader bilateral relationship.

Diplomacy With Roots

Grand strategies are necessary, but they can remain fragile if not grounded in society. Sub-national diplomacy provides that anchor. The Joint Vision for the Next Decade and the Prime Minister’s meeting with governors make it clear: the future of India–Japan ties will be written as much in prefectural exchanges and state-level initiatives as in summit communiqués.

By strengthening regional connections, we create a bilateral partnership that is less dependent on headlines and more resilient in practice. For IJBC, the task is to keep building these bridges — patiently, persistently, and with the conviction that true diplomacy grows stronger when it is rooted in people and places.

About the Author

Siddharth Deshmukh is the President of the Indo-Japan Business Council (IJBC). He has been a catalyst for bilateral engagement, focusing on economic synergies and cultural exchanges.

His leadership has solidified IJBC’s role as a pivotal platform for enhancing connectivity, trust, and cooperation between India and Japan. His re-election underscores his significant contributions to fostering collaboration.

Disclaimer: The views expressed are the author’s personal reflections, shared as part of IJBC’s ongoing work to deepen understanding of the India–Japan partnership.