The latest official numbers on foreign direct investments (FDI) indicate that Japan was the largest source of inflows into India in the April-June quarter of FY27. This welcome development reflects an accelerating uptrend during the last few years. This surge is also corroborated by data of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) which also indicates that Japan has been investing more in India than China since 2023. These developments reflect the broader context of closer bilateral ties after Shinzo Abe became the Prime Minister of Japan 20 years ago. He shared a warm equation not only with PM Narendra Modi but also former premier Manmohan Singh. The India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership was established during his tenure and bolstered by successive PMs including the present one, Sanae Takaichi, who regards Abe as her mentor and made her first visit to India.