Japan Elects First Female Prime Minister

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• The Prime Minister extended congratulations to Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s newly-elected and first woman Prime Minister. 
  • He emphasized that partnership between India and Japan plays a vital role in ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific region.

Similarities and Differences between Indian and Japanese Political Systems

• Parliamentary System: India is a parliamentary republic, while Japan is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. In both systems, the Prime Minister is the real executive authority.
  • India has bicameral Parliament – Lok Sabha (House of the People) and Rajya Sabha (Council of States).
  • Japan has a bicameral Diet – House of Representatives (Shugiin) and House of Councillors (Sangiin).
• Written Constitution & Fundamental Rights: India and Japan possess written constitutions, both constitutions emphasize the protection of fundamental rights and human freedoms.
  • Japan has a unitary Constitution with centralized authority and no federal division.
  • The Japanese constitution is very rigid  as compared to India’s flexible constitution.
• Judicial Independence: The two countries maintain an independent judiciary.
  • The appointment of Chief Justice and Judges differ in both countries.
• Executive Accountability: In both systems, the council of ministers/cabinet, headed by the Prime Minister, is accountable to the lower house of the legislature.

Priority Areas Identified During the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit 2025

• Economic security: Collaboration on semiconductors, critical minerals, AI, supply chains. 
• MSMEs (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises): Japanese MSMEs supporting “Make in India, Make for the World”; aiming at a 10-trillion-yen (approx. US$68 billion) investment target. 
• Defence equipment & technology transfer: The Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation was revised for the first time in 17 years in 2025.
  • It elevates defense and security ties to the next level, taking into account the contemporary geopolitical realities and security configurations in the region.
• People-to-people exchanges: An Action Plan for India-Japan Human Resource Exchange and Cooperation.
  • It lays out a roadmap for talent mobility and deepening people-to-people ties through exchanges of more than 500,000 personnel in five years.
• Multilateral and minilateral cooperation: India and Japan as partners in global issues, in fora like the United Nations, G20, and the Indo-Pacific region.

Brief on India-Japan Relations

• Establishment of Relations: After WWII, India opted for a separate Peace Treaty with Japan, signed in 1952, marking the start of formal diplomatic relations.
• Growth in Bilateral Ties: India-Japan bilateral relations were elevated to Global Partnership in 2000, Strategic and Global Partnership in 2006, and Special Strategic and Global Partnership in 2014.
• Strategic Synergy: India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) align closely with Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) policy. 
• Collaboration on Global Initiatives: Japan and India cooperate in initiatives like the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT).
  • Both countries work together in multilateral frameworks like the Japan-Australia-India-U.S. Quad and the India-Japan-Australia Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI).
• Defence and Security: Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation (2008), Defence Cooperation and Exchanges MoU (2014), Information Protection Agreement (2015), Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services Agreement (2020), and co-development of the UNICORN naval mast (2024).
  • Exercises: Malabar (with the US and Australia), Milan (multilateral naval), JIMEX (bilateral maritime), Dharma Guardian (Army), and Coast Guard cooperation are held regularly. 
  • 2024-25 saw the participation of service chiefs in India and Japan, strengthening interoperability.
• Bilateral Trade: Bilateral trade reached $22.8 billion in 2023-24.
  • Imports from Japan continue to outweigh exports. India’s main exports are chemicals, vehicles, aluminium, and seafood; imports include machinery, steel, copper, and reactors.
• Investment: Japan is India’s fifth-largest source of FDI, with $43.2 billion cumulative investment up to 2024.
  • Japan has consistently ranked India as the most promising long-term investment destination.
• Space Collaboration: ISRO and JAXA collaborate in X-ray astronomy, satellite navigation, lunar exploration, and the Asia Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF).
  • In 2016, they signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) for peaceful space exploration and use.
• Emerging Focus Areas: Digital cooperation (semiconductors, startups), clean energy, supply chain resilience, industrial competitiveness, and skill development.
• Development and Infrastructure Cooperation: Japan has been India’s largest ODA donor since 1958, supporting critical infrastructure and human development projects.
  • ODA disbursement stood at about JPY 580 billion ($4.5 billion) in 2023-24.
  • The flagship Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail is the flagship project symbolising advanced technology transfer and skill development. 
• Tourism: 2023-24 was celebrated as the Year of Tourism Exchange, with the theme “Connecting Himalayas with Mount Fuji”.
• Diaspora: About 54,000 Indians live in Japan, mainly IT professionals and engineers. 

Areas of Concern

• Trade Imbalance: There is a significant trade imbalance, with Japan exporting more to India than India exports to Japan, creating a need for better reciprocal trade.
• Geopolitical Tensions: Regional security issues, such as China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific, pose challenges for India-Japan relations, requiring careful diplomatic balancing.
• Cultural and Language Barriers: Despite strong ties, differences in language, culture, and business practices pose challenges to deeper integration.
• Limited People-to-People Exchanges: The scale of people-to-people interactions is still limited, impacting deeper mutual understanding.
• Infrastructure Constraints: Despite improvements, some areas in India still lack the infrastructure necessary to support large-scale Japanese investments effectively.
• Different Economic Priorities: India’s focus on rapid economic growth may sometimes contrast with Japan’s emphasis on sustainable development and technology.

Way Ahead

• Enhance Trade and Investment: Focus on reducing the trade imbalance by increasing Indian exports to Japan and encouraging Japanese investment in India’s manufacturing and technology sectors.
• Boost People-to-People Connections: Increase cultural exchanges, tourism, and educational collaborations to deepen mutual understanding.
• Technology and Innovation Partnership: Leverage Japan’s expertise in technology and India’s growing digital sector to collaborate in AI, robotics, renewable energy, and space exploration.
• Address Environmental Concerns: Increase cooperation on environmental sustainability, climate change, and disaster resilience to support both countries’ green energy goals.

Conclusion

• India’s economic and military potential, coupled with Japan’s unique ability to undertake projects of enormous scope and scale, provides a compelling rationale for strategic collaboration against rising threats in the Indo-Pacific.

Source: PIB