India and Japan: News and Discussion

VinodTK · Post by **VinodTK** » 07 Jan 2014 06:14

Japan Considers Greater India Air-Force Links Amid China Tension

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 07 Jan 2014 07:02

Sensitive Japan Asks India to Address Safe Use of Nuclear Energy - Sandeep Dikshit, The Hindu

Even as hopes rise of a civil nuclear accord with Japan following confirmation that its Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be the chief guest at Republic Day celebrations here, an influential lawmaker from Tokyo indicated on Monday that the path ahead was still not smooth and India should make concessions keeping in mind Japanese sensitivities. Chief Representative of the New Komeito Party Natsuo Yamaguchi assured India of a “flexible approach from the Japanese side” if it addressed some “areas of concern” such as non-proliferation, Comprehensive [Nuclear] Test Ban Treaty and safe use of nuclear energy for civilian purposes. {India most certainly will not go one inch more than what it has already announced and repeated many times. While India appreciates Japanese sensitivities and wants to have deeper relationship with Japan, India cannot be realistically expected to make concessions on these fundamental issues which have already been accepted by other world powers and international bodies}

“Japan has experienced nuclear bomb and an [nuclear] accident. Both are quite delicate and sensitive to the Japanese psyche. Respect of the public’s sentiments needs to be considered,” he told External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid.

The New Komeito Party has been a steadfast supporter of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party but Mr. Yamaguchi has shown signs of his party differing on some aspects of state policy. These led Mr. Abe to open talks last month with Opposition parties such as Ishin No Kai.

Mr. Yamaguchi, who confirmed that Mr. Abe would be coming here for the Republic Day parade, is leading a delegation of parliamentarians. His visit is part of the process of stepping up political exchanges as the two countries set out to improve ties in the strategic sphere of defence, high tech and regional cooperation in partnership with the U.S. In fact, Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera met his Indian counterpart A.K. Antony on Monday to touch upon some aspects of this hi-tech cooperation including the proposal to assemble in India a Japanese dual-use plane.

During the meeting with Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Mr. Yamaguchi said it was vital to learn from Japan’s failures such as the inability to address timely the destruction to the environment during industrialisation and delayed action in addressing changes in social structure leading to an ageing society gathering momentum.

According to the Japanese leader, Mr. Ansari responded by admitting that it was a tough task to balance the priorities of development and its impact on the environment. In India, the population could not be controlled during the early decades. The lower demographic profile at present was an asset but had to be carefully groomed so that it did not become a destructive force, he said.

Defence cooperation

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar reports:

The two countries resolved to continue their defence consultation and cooperation, including in maritime security, at Monday’s meeting of their Defence Ministers Mr. Antony and Mr. Onodera.

When Mr. Onodera’s visit was announced in late December, some Japanese news agencies reported, citing government sources, that he “plans to promote talks to export Japan’s US-2 amphibious aircraft used by the Maritime Self-Defence Force (MSDF) to India, prior to the scheduled visit to the country by Mr. Abe in late January.” However, sources here said that while Japan had been pitching for the sale of these aircraft as a special case, for the moment it did not figure on India’s list of priorities.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 07 Jan 2014 07:09

SSridhar, the New Komeito are the Japanese 'Green' Party. They are an offshoot of a Buddhist organization Soka Gakkai. They profess nuclear disarmament and an end to wars. They and the ruling LDP are an odd couple, in the sense that Abe's nationalist position is similar to his predecessors Junichiro Koizumi and Yasuhiro Nakasone, while the NKP are very different. This is really about internal Japanese politics, and we should gently tell them to sort this out between themselves and talk to us in a unified voice, instead of making demands of us piecemeal.

vishvak · Post by **vishvak** » 07 Jan 2014 19:03

+1 Klaus ji, may be Indians can chip in with few more buys of US-2 and facilitating any which way may be with a complimentary base nearby. Japanese have displayed seriousness about such efforts at many places around the world.

JE Menon · Post by **JE Menon** » 07 Jan 2014 20:31

^^You mean for an Indian base near Japan? Would be a nice possibility. But doubtful a few shinmaywas will suffice.

Cosmo_R · Post by **Cosmo_R** » 07 Jan 2014 20:36

VinodTK wrote:Japan Considers Greater India Air-Force Links Amid China Tension

Who's AKA's wardrobe (mal) function adviser? Quite a fashion combo mashup

vishvak · Post by **vishvak** » 07 Jan 2014 20:48

Sorry I didn't clarify. I meant one near Djibouti near Japanese one planned.

JE Menon · Post by **JE Menon** » 07 Jan 2014 21:19

Cosmo,

There's nothing that says "we don't give a flying fu(k about what you think of us" like a wardrobe that appears careless... but comfortable to the wearer. I doubt even divine power can prise aka out of his mundu and into something else in India. That shawl is his deferment to convention and that cap I have no idea... Himachali? Must be some sentimental reason...

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 07 Jan 2014 23:18

AKA's cap is from Himachal Pradesh. He has appeared in that attire many times.
Also the cap is worn on ceremonial occassions by pahadi folks.
His attire represents India from Kerala to the Himalayas in his own sublte way.

Also Abe being the chief guest at Republic Day crooks a snook at the US-PRC duo.

Looks like things are changing and not stagnant.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 07 Jan 2014 23:21

I think Japan should get into defence r&d with India, much more important than joint exercise and shows. The deep understanding will only mature with deeper exchanges of hands.

Cosmo_R · Post by **Cosmo_R** » 08 Jan 2014 06:40

JE Menon wrote:Cosmo,

There's nothing that says "we don't give a flying fu(k about what you think of us" like a wardrobe that appears careless... but comfortable to the wearer. I doubt even divine power can prise aka out of his mundu and into something else in India. That shawl is his deferment to convention and that cap I have no idea... Himachali? Must be some sentimental reason...

I thought his getup was funky. Not Diane Keaton to be sure, but that combo merits a future role in Annie Hall, The Sequel. Lah Di Dah!

About the FF, I hear you. However, this metaphorical sudharshan chakra seems aimed at friend, family and foes alike.

Lastly, about 'prising' him out of his mundu, perish the thought.

Slow day.

JE Menon · Post by **JE Menon** » 08 Jan 2014 11:20

When the Japanese are as comfortable using their own clothing inheritance as we are with ours, then we shall see. Right now, by and large, there is no civilization on the planet where people are so comfortable switching between and living comfortably with multiple identities (and clothes are one of its pillars) than us Indians.

You are right about aka, his sense of "fashion" if we want to call it that is literally incomprehensible...

Klaus · Post by **Klaus** » 08 Jan 2014 19:42

vishvak wrote:Indians can chip in with few more buys of US-2 and facilitating any which way may be with a complimentary base nearby. Japanese have displayed seriousness about such efforts at many places around the world.

Japanese industrial houses can indeed partner on many defense projects, aero engines, large airframes for civilian and military applications and avionics too. Many moons ago, there was a discussion centered around an indigenous development of a strategic bomber (or bomb truck), Brazil based Embraer was considered as one potential partner for such a JV, IMO Kawasaki too would fit the bill due to their experience with building large AEW airframes.

devesh · Post by **devesh** » 09 Jan 2014 06:57

real question is does Japan or India have enough strategic leverage in their respective spheres to handle Uncle's retaliation in the event of any major military collaboration between Japan and India?

no matter what the chatteratti say about US wanting Ind and Jap to collaborate against PRC, they will never be comfortable with it.

remember, US considers - and has largely taken on the role of "inheritor" - the Brits as the creators of the empire which they now run.

just as Brit attitude about Indo-Japanese collaboration in war-time was instinctively paranoid and suspicious, Uncle will also internally have the same feelings dominating their thinking.

there might be a hedging faction with Uncle establishment which might consider an Indo-Jap scenario as a possible US-Ind-Jap situation, but this faction will be a minority.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 09 Jan 2014 16:42

Japan wants India's support on disputes with China - ToI

Engaged in a territorial dispute with China, Japan on Thursday sought India's support over "the recent Chinese provocative actions" saying a message needs to be sent to it collectively that status quo cannot be changed by force.

Japanese defence minister Itsunori Onodera said dialogue is the only way to resolve the row created by imposition of restrictions by China in the East China Sea and other areas.

"For both India and Japan, China is an important neighbouring country. Both countries have important economic linkages with China. However, after the recent Chinese provocative actions, entire international community will have to send a message to China," he told in an interview here [New Delhi].

"Both Japan and India should ask for a dialogue with Chinese side and tell China not to change status quo by force. These issues should be solved through dialogue and following international rules," the Minister said.

He was responding when asked whether India and Japan could come together on issues with China as both the countries have territorial disputes with it.

The security situation in the region against the backdrop of recent tensions between Japan and China triggered by imposition of 'Air Defence Identification Zone' (ADIZ) over East China Sea and other areas by China came up during talks between Onodera and his Indian counterpart A K Antony on Monday.

During the meeting, Antony is understood to have told Onodera that India stands for freedom of navigation in international waters and application of global conventions.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 09 Jan 2014 18:19

China is the Darth Vader,Voldermort,Sauron of the 21st century.The Nazis will be boy scouts in comparison to what the Chinese may turn into if the globe does not unite to shackle its infinite military ambition.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/j ... rry-potter

Japan hits back at China over Voldemort comparisons
Both sides have now likened each other to Harry Potter villain in diplomatic row played out in articles in British press

A week after a Chinese envoy compared Japan to Lord Voldemort, Japan's ambassador to Britain has also invoked Harry Potter's arch-enemy to accuse Beijing of raising tensions amid disputes over territory and wartime history.

In an opinion piece in the Daily Telegraph, Keiichi Hayashi said China was attempting to use "coercion" to change the status quo in the Asia-Pacific region, and defended Japan's postwar commitment to peace, democracy and human rights.

"Our maritime forces never harass neighbours on the high seas and we have upheld in action the values inscribed in the UN charter," Hayashi wrote in reference to Beijing's vigorous territorial claims, adding that those values were "deeply ingrained" in Japan.

"East Asia is now at a crossroads," Hayashi said. "There are two paths open to China. One is to seek dialogue, and abide by the rule of law. The other is to play the role of Voldemort in the region by letting loose the evil of an arms race and escalation of tensions, although Japan will not escalate the situation from its side.

"The answer seems obvious. Although China has so far refused to enable dialogue between our leaders, I sincerely hope that it will come forward, rather than keep invoking the ghost of militarism of seven decades ago, which no longer exists."

Hayashi's broadside, made in response to a scathing op-ed in the same newspaper by his Chinese counterpart in London, Liu Xiaoming, was published as Japan's prime minister, Shinzo Abe, called for dialogue with the leaders of China and South Korea.

Abe angered Japan's neighbours last month with a visit to a controversial shrine that honours the country's war dead, including several former leaders convicted of war crimes.

To many Chinese and South Koreans, the Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo is a potent symbol of Japanese militarism; pilgrimages by politicians are seen as evidence that Japan has yet to atone for its wartime conduct on the Asian mainland.

While there is little prospect of summit talks, Abe said he wanted to explain the reasons behind his visit to the shrine to Chinese leader Xi Jinping and South Korean president Park Geun-hye.

"Seeking dialogue with China and South Korea is extremely important for the peace and security of this region," Abe told reporters on Monday. "I would like to explain my true intentions regarding my visit to Yasukuni. There aren't any direct approaches being made to set up such meetings at present, but the door for dialogue is always open. I would like to hold Japan-China and Japan-South Korea summit meetings.

"I am sure that I will be able to obtain the understanding of nearby nations about my administration's pursuit of peace if I explain it thoroughly."

Abe insisted that he did not visit Yasukuni to honour war criminals or to promote militarism, but to remember the 2.5 million Japanese war dead and to reaffirm his determination that Japan should never again go to war.

His explanation did nothing to calm tempers in Beijing, whose envoy to London accused Abe of "raising the spectre of militarism" and putting the world on a "perilous path".

Liu wrote: "If militarism is like the haunting Voldemort of Japan, the Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo is a kind of horcrux, representing the darkest parts of that nation's soul."

In response to Beijing's criticism of Abe's plans to increase defence spending over the next five years, Hayashi wrote: "It is ironic that a country that has increased its own military spending by more than 10% a year for the past 20 years should call a neighbour militarist."

He drew attention to growing unease over China's territorial ambitions in the region, including its claims over the Senkaku islands – known in China as the Diaoyu – which are administered by Japan.

"[China's] attempt to change the status quo by force or coercion has raised concerns not only in Japan, but also among its neighbours throughout the East China Sea and the South China Sea," he said.

Worsening ties between China and Japan, the world's second and third-biggest economies, are causing concern in the US.

At the weekend, the US secretary of defence, Chuck Hagel, urged Abe to reach out to China in the wake of his Yasukuni visit, which Washington had described as "disappointing".

"Secretary Hagel underscored the importance of Japan taking steps to improve relations with its neighbours," the defence department said in a statement.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 12 Jan 2014 18:22

Japan wants to join India-US naval war games - ToI

Japan wants to be a part of the naval exercise that India and the US hold every year to make it trilateral, six years after it was kept out of it apparently because of Chinese objections.

Japanese defence minister Itsunori Onodera made it clear that the proposed trilateral Malabar-series exercise was not aimed against any specific country and was important for the security of sea lanes in the region.

"During the meeting with defence minister AK Antony, I asked for the participation of the Japanese maritime self defence forces in the naval war games," he said in a recent interview here.

Onodera was asked whether his country was interested in taking part in the war games held between India and the US.

"This is not targeting a specific country. This is an exercise between three friendly countries to participate for security of sea lanes, this is an important exercise," he said.

Malabar-series exercises are held between India and the US but in 2007, Japan and Australia had also taken part in it outside the Indian Ocean near the coast of Okinawa in Japan.

China was apparently not happy about the event and is understood to have sought an explanation from the participating countries about it.

After the objections, India decided against making the war games multilateral and since then, it has been kept as a bilateral affair between it and the US Navy.

It is understood that the US, which is a close ally of Japan, does not have any objections over Tokyo's participation in the war games and the two countries are awaiting approval from the Indian side on the issue.

The annual Malabar series exercises began in 1992, and include diverse activities, ranging from fighter combat operations from aircraft carriers and nuclear submarine operations.

The 2007 edition was the only time that the exercise had taken place outside India Ocean, Bay of Bengal or Arabian Sea.
Post

Klaus · Post by **Klaus** » 12 Jan 2014 21:04

devesh wrote:real question is does Japan or India have enough strategic leverage in their respective spheres to handle Uncle's retaliation in the event of any major military collaboration between Japan and India?

Uncle has already pre-empted several moves in the IOR (Maldives) and has several planned counter moves on the drawing board. Ultimately, India & Japan need to do what they have to, in order to realize their individual national potential. Besides, it would be an already guaranteed assumption in Indian Navy blue water doctrine that they are going to have ever-increasing run-ins with the Anglosphere in the Southern IOR.

India is presently hamstrung east of the line between Darwin-Port Moresby-Guam and south of Diego Garcia (sole exception being Agalega Islands), both due to Uncle, Japan is hamstrung south of Guam as well. Either the partnership uses this weakness to find new strengths (in Africa and/or Central Asia) or continue in inactive mode.

There might come a time in the near future when India will have to lead a pan-Asian grouping of Dharma based federations. Japan will be a member of this grouping, something which may play a catalyst's role in getting Japan away from WW2 imposed shackles, India might also be able to enable Russia and Japan to negotiate an end to their territorial conflict over the Kuril Islands in return for additional pressure points on PRC.

uddu · Post by **uddu** » 13 Jan 2014 08:19

We are purchasing the US-2.
Is there anything that we can sell in return to Japan?
May be Akash missile systems, and Pinaka with 60 km range.
The chances of missiles like Prahaar getting into Japanese Self Defence forces before they get inducted in Indian Army is a possibility.
The many systems available with us will surely help reduce the dependence of Japan on U.S.

Neshant · Post by **Neshant** » 13 Jan 2014 08:23

"This is not targeting a specific country. This is an exercise between three friendly countries to participate for security of sea lanes, this is an important exercise," he said.

Obviously it is targeting a specific country - namely China.

Japan has never supported India on a single issue.

Worse yet, they have even joined in sanctions and other actions against India.

We are eager to please them but there is zero being reciprocated.

Ask in return that India & Japan do some R&D on high tech weapons development if they want to join the exercises. Lets have a real exchange, not a one way street.

sanjaykumar · Post by **sanjaykumar** » 13 Jan 2014 09:19

When Japan goes nuclear india and japan can have a meaningful relationship. It is optics till that time.

devesh · Post by **devesh** » 13 Jan 2014 10:20

sanjaykumar wrote:When Japan goes nuclear india and japan can have a meaningful relationship. It is optics till that time.

interesting point. there might be something to this.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 14 Jan 2014 13:53

Report on Bangalore Corridor by Month End - N.Anand, The Hindu

The first interim report of Chennai-Bangalore Industrial Corridor (CBIC) will be ready by January end and the final one by the year end, said State government officials.

Japanese firms have been asking for better connectivity and faster and easier movement of freight from Southern ports – Chennai and Ennore to East Asia.

Proposed corridor

The proposal includes creation of industrial corridor and hi-speed rail corridor between Chennai and Bangalore. The project is funded by the Japan International Co-operation Agency, an official said.

Presently Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are developing the proposed corridor. It will pass through two districts of Andhra Pradesh and seven districts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. As per the plan, Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts are all being covered.

On Monday, Prime Minister’s Advisor T.K.A. Nair reviewed 11 major projects that included Ennore port multi-cargo terminal, container terminal, Chennai Port’s multi-cargo terminal and Ro-Ro terminal, North Port Access Road, Outer Ring Road phase-II, Ennore Manali Road Improvement Project. {The PMO is directly involved because of Japanese pressure}

The meeting was attended by the State government officials, representatives of Shipping Ministry and National Highways Authority of India.

member_19686 · Post by **member_19686** » 14 Jan 2014 23:05

Emissary of freedom (& food) in the land of the rising sun
Probir Bikash Sarkar tells Susenjit Guha that though Rashbehari Bose is remembered as a revolutionary freedom fighter, few know that he also introduced Indian curry to the Japanese.
SUSENJIT GUHA 7th Sep 2013

Rashbehari Bose with his Japanese wife, Soma Toshiko.

How did you come to know that Rashbehari Bose introduced curry in Japan?

A. I was interested in the life of the Indian revolutionary Rashbehari Bose since childhood. When I came to Japan in 1984 for higher studies, I decided to the check out the entertainment hub of Shinjuku in Tokyo. There I noticed Indo Karii, written in Japanese on a glass showcase at the entrance of a commercial building established in 1901, called Nakamuraya. Inside the showcase there were some carefully preserved very old family photographs in which Rashbehari Bose also figured. I took pictures of them and hunted the libraries for more material on Bose's curry connection. Out of the many books I found where it was mentioned that Bousu or Bose had introduced curry to the Japanese, there was one, written after World War II, by his mother and uncle-in-law of the wealthy Soma family that I got particularly interested in. It was about the Asian awakening and Indian revolutionary Bose and Japan. Later, many Japanese historians, authors, academicians and politicians went out of their way to help me in my research, including Takeshi Nakajima, a Hokkaido University professor, who penned a biography, Bose of Nakamuraya, touching on the exiled revolutionary's stay at various hideouts in Japan and his subsequent foray into the restaurant business.

Q. Have you written about Bose's curry connection?

A. Yes, I have mentioned the curry connection in several books written in Bengali and also in Jane Anjane Japan, a Hindi translation, published by Prakashan Sansthan, Delhi.

Q. How did Bose get married into a Japanese family?

A. Bose fled India for Japan after there was a nationwide search following the failed assassination bid on Lord Hardinge in Delhi. Bose landed in Japan in 1916 and got sanctuary at the house of a very powerful pan-Asian ultra nationalist leader, Toyama Mitsuru, who belonged to the secret Genyosha society. Police were hot on Bose's trail since Japan was an ally of the British in World War I, but could not risk raiding Toyama's. Bose's movement was restricted as he was virtually confined to the house. So, Toyama approached his friend Soma Aizo and his wife Kokkou Aizo, who owned Nakamuraya, to hide them in an attic in their first floor residence, which was used as a studio of sorts. Toyama requested the couple to marry off their daughter, Soma Toshiko, to Bose.

Q. What did Nakamuraya sell in those days?

A. Nakamuraya was a very popular bakery in Shinjuku which sold different variations of bread. The Somas bought the building from a Mr. Nakamura in 1901. The prefix 'ya' means a store in Japanese. The store was on the ground floor and the Somas lived above.

Indian curry as served today in the Nakamuraya restaurant

Q. How did Bose get into the curry business?

A. Bose's wife Toshiko died of tuberculosis in 1925 at the age of 26, leaving behind a son and a daughter. Two years later, Bose told his father-in-law, Aizo, that he wanted to start selling chicken curry and rice along with the bakery products. Aizo readily agreed and set up a restaurant on the first floor named Indo No Mone for serving Indian style curry. Bose introduced chicken curry and rice to the Japanese.

Q. Bose died in 1945 and what happened to the restaurant after that?

A. Yes, Bose also died of tuberculosis in 1945 and his son, Masahide died fighting the US army at Okinawa in 1944/45. Bose's daughter, Tetsuko married a noted marital law exponent of the Higuchi order and took over the reins. Soon after the end of World War II in 1945, the private ownership ceased and Nakamuraya became a public limited company.

Q. Is Bose's curry still available at Nakamuraya?

A. Oh, yes. The building is up for renovation now, but it will open once again next year. Indo Karii is served the same way in an elegant sauce boat with vegetable pickles on the side. The restaurant is manned by local chefs. The chicken comes from the local poultries and vegetables are sourced from the Japanese countryside, while all the spices come from India. Packed ready-to-eat Indo Karii rice is sold at franchised outlets across Japan.

Q. Does the average Japanese know about Bose's curry contribution?

A. Yes. Whenever there is a feature or a TV report on Nakamuraya, Bose's contribution in terms of Indian chicken curry and rice is mentioned. Moreover, Bose is remembered in Japan as a businessman and a politician. After a Japanese daily, Mainichi Shimbun, interviewed me, I was approached by a local journalist, who introduced me to the former radical leader Toyama's grandson, an intellectual and politician, called Toyama Okisuke. He reminisced about his grandfather's links to Bose and mentioned about the curry connection as well.

Bose in Japan

Q. How did Bose manage to be an entrepreneur considering his revolutionary past?

A. Bose was an all rounder of sorts. To make his restaurant successful, he arranged farmers to procure rice and raise chickens. In Japan, he was a restaurateur, writer, journalist and an active votary for India's independence. He worked closely with radical groups in Japanese society to garner support for his cause.

Q. Did you meet his daughter?

A. No, I tried to, but Tetsuko was not willing to speak to anyone.

Q. Why was she reticent to talk about her father?

A. A noted Tagore expert, Kazuo Azimo, told me Tetsuko was miffed since her father did not get due recognition in his land of birth. However, I learnt she had quietly visited India once in the past and left without informing anyone.

Q. What were his other contributions?

A. Few people are aware that he drummed up support for independence among Indian soldiers of the British army, captured by the Japanese in what was known as East Asia. He was a low key operator and virtually gave shape to the Indian National Army, before handing over charge to the younger Subhas Chandra Bose.

Probir Bikash Sarkar is a Japan-based expatriate Bangladeshi writer and researcher on Tagore- Japan links. He has published various books and articles and appeared for TV interviews in Japan.

http://www.sunday-guardian.com/artbeat/ ... rising-sun

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 17 Jan 2014 13:10

Hiroo Onoda died yesterday in Tokyo. Onoda was a young Lt. in Intelligence posted on a philipino island in 1945. when the americans arrived, he was given orders to go into hiding and run a guerilla campaign from the jungle. he faithfully did so until 1974, when his former CO had to be flown in to persuade him to surrender since the war really had finished and it wasn't a trick.

he came out of the jungle still in his uniform, sword and gun in working order

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 18 Jan 2014 05:29

Imperial Japan's last holdout soldier dies

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 21 Jan 2014 00:53

Japan to Test Space Junk Cleanup Tether Soon: Report.
http://www.space.com/24325-japan-space-junk-tether.html
( Amazing Photo of Space Pakis Orbiting The Prithvi)

Japanese scientists are getting ready to launch a test of a space junk-cleaning tether, according to press reports.Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) researchers are developing an electrodynamic tether designed to generate electricity that will slow down space-based debris, according to a report from Agence France Presse.The slowed-down space junk will fall into lower and lower orbits until burning up harmlessly in Earth's atmosphere.

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 23 Jan 2014 01:19

It is cherry blossom time in India-Japan relations

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 23 Jan 2014 04:31

Abe visit: Indo-Japan nuclear pact unlikely

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 23 Jan 2014 06:34

Acharya wrote:Abe visit: Indo-Japan nuclear pact unlikely

Though one can understand the lack of progress in the 'nuclear' issue, it is in the case of military equipment that this lack of progress bothers me.

It was during the Japanese PM Yoshihiko Noda’s visit to India in December 2011 that Japan lifted embargo on arms sales to India. India immediately started scouting for the Japanese search-and-rescue planes. The Indian Navy said that it needed nine of these sea-planes. In April 2012, the Japanese Defence company (ShinMaywa) also participated in DEFEXPO-2012, in New Delhi. During his trip to India in July 2013, the Japanese Senior Vice Minister for Defence, Mr. Akinori Eto and the Indian National Security Advisor, Shiv Shankar Menon decided to extend their defence cooperation by joining hands to co-produce equipment. In order to have a more intensive level of interaction between the Indian and Japanese services, Japan decided to have three service attaches at its New Delhi embassy in c. 2013. In September, 2013, ShinMayWa officials said in India that they were looking at Indian strategic partners for their US-2 product. However, the discussions seem deadlocked. In the meanwhile, we see Japan and Turkey signing a deal within a short span of time to develop engines for their tanks. This slow pace is frustrating.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 23 Jan 2014 07:05

Acharya wrote:Abe visit: Indo-Japan nuclear pact unlikely

SOKO , now Can do all the hardware which only Japan could do in Nuclear field and SOKO president made offer last week on visit to India.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 23 Jan 2014 08:30

Jhujar, but GE does not buy from SOKO, only from Japan.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 23 Jan 2014 10:44

SSridhar: Japan has a delicate domestic political balancing act to play when it comes to arms exports. Even though they lifted the embargo, remember that the current LDP coalition includes the anti-war New Komeito (who I wrote about a few posts ago). Abe would like to dilute the pacifict constitution to build up Japan's military against PRC, but arms exports are a whole other business. I don't think it has a lot to do with us, as much as it has to do with their own local politics.

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 23 Jan 2014 10:53

The intention to collaborate on Defence and N is very important.
The PRC reaction and their behavior will determine the future outcome of these plans

Neshant · Post by **Neshant** » 23 Jan 2014 11:06

Lets see the actions rather than the words.

Proposals to do defence R&D with Japan have led nowhere in the past.

They have not been the least bit interested in such activities with India.

Until there are joint Indo-Japan projects in the defence sector underway, its all just talk.

By defence project, I'm not talking license manufacture aka screw driver technology. But real high tech R&D.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 23 Jan 2014 11:54

Suraj, thanks. yes, I understand that Japan has imposed a ban on arms exports especially to 'conflict zones' and India may well fall under that category because of Pakistan. However, the US-2 was after all considered as a 'search and rescue' seaplane. After the new defence Policy was released in December 2013, one should expect a different approach towards India as a new 'security council' within defence ministry would now decide on 'arms exports' rather than the blanket ban. I am perplexed as to why such a sentiment did not deter Japan from negotiating R&D on tank engines with Turkey very quickly after the new defence policy guidelines were announced.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 23 Jan 2014 11:56

Turkey is in NATO and Japan has been a MNNA since the late 1980s, which helps.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 23 Jan 2014 12:01

We have another MNNA in the neighbourhood.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 23 Jan 2014 12:02

No SSridhar, they are a MuNNA. Very different

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 24 Jan 2014 07:50

Shinzo Abe's participation in R-day not yet confirmed. I hope he makes it. We had a similar situation a few years back when the Bhutanese King graciously obliged to be a replacement.

Japan PM to be Chief Guest at Republic Day Parade - Sandeep Dikshit, The Hindu
The headline does not truly reflect the content.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be able to squeeze in a visit to India to be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade on Sunday.

Meticulous to a fault, the Japanese have till now not announced Mr. Abe’s visit, during which he will have an intensive session with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. In fact, an invitation from the Embassy of Japan sent a day earlier was circumspect, saying Mr. Abe “intends to visit India, if circumstances allow”.

But the Indian side is sure Mr. Abe would make it and in the process be the first Prime Minister of Japan to be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade. When a Japanese journalist said Mr. Abe, despite being the Prime Minister of a pacifist nation, will be witnessing nuclear capable missiles being displayed, MEA’s Joint Secretary (East Asia) Gautam Bambawale pointed out that it was not purely a military parade but had a civilian component too.

“It also shows off social and cultural aspects of India. [The] fact is we have had chief guests for our annual parade for many decades. We are delighted he has accepted the invitation at a time when it is not completely convenient to him,” said Mr. Bambawale.

The senior MEA official also admitted that Japan was crucial to India’s plans to set up nuclear plants with French and American technology. “We are aware that in the area of nuclear technology, certain advantages rest with the Japanese industry — for example in large scale forgings.