HISTORY & ACTIVITIES
History
当協会は、駐日インド大使をはじめとする両国の要人との交流から、沖縄の観光・産業界を支える在住インド人経営者やコミュニティとの深い信頼関係を築いてきました。
そうした交流を大切に、伝統芸能や文化イベント、教育支援を通じて、沖縄とインドの架け橋となるべく、互いの文化への深い理解と敬意を育んでいます。
現在、私たちの活動は文化交流の枠を超え、次なるステージへと進化しています。沖縄県や沖縄観光コンベンションビューロー（OCVB）、経済団体を巻き込み、IT・ビジネス・観光など多岐にわたる分野で官民一体となったプロジェクトを推進しています。
著しい成長を続けるインドと、沖縄の「ゆいまーる」の精神。
私たち沖印友好協会はこの二つの架け橋として、今後とも、持続的な交流を続けるとともに、新たな価値を見出して参ります。
2026年2月5日～7日：恩納村観光協会より受託を受け、インドで行われた国際旅行博OTM2026へインドエージェント「I Love
Japan」と共にブース出展を行った。
3日間で、3000名程の訪問があり、アウトバウンドを取り扱う現地旅行会社へ日本の新たな旅行先として、沖縄県をPRすることが出来た。この体験を元に、今後インドからの観光客誘致に向け、更なる連携を図りながら、積極的に進める。
2025年2月19日～24日
沖印友好協会主催:インド視察
当協会だけでなく、沖縄県、恩納村長、恩納村観光協会会長、沖縄県旅行会社、各経済団体代表ら22名が参加。
インド・日本双方間の人の往来、沖縄県へのインバウンド増加に向けて、世界旅行博SATTE2025の視察、また、インド旅行業協会、アウトバウンドツアーオペレーター協会との調印式を行う。調印式の様子は、沖縄タイムスや、インド現地の新聞でも掲載される。
沖縄県のＩＴ人材育成を目指し、インドBMLムンジャル大学との調印式を行う。 その他にも、ジェトロ講演会、沖縄県経済同友会との在インド日本大使館訪問＆意見交換会、大統領官邸訪問等を通じて、インド文化・経済を学び、理解を深めた。
４月には、インド視察時、SATTE2025にて交流のあったインドエージェント「I Love Japan」が初来沖。 沖縄県内を視察し、インド,沖縄の商品造成について、意見交換の場を設け、今後も積極的に連携を続ける。
7月には、駐日インド大使シビ・ジョージ閣下が2度目の来沖。 沖縄県知事や県議長、那覇市市長、沖縄市市長表敬を行った。今回の訪問では、平和祈念公園にて、国立沖縄戦没者墓苑の献花、平和の礎の視察、また、沖縄こどもの国、国立劇場おきなわや、工芸の杜、石垣島への視察等、沖縄の歴史、伝統文化を体験していただき、沖縄国際大学では、学生への講義や交流等の場を設けた。
歓迎会では日本とインドとの関わりと今後についての講演をいただき、今後の可能性について広く意見交換が行われた。
8月には、2025年2月の視察にて訪問したムンジャル大学より、学部長含め４名を沖縄へお迎えし、沖縄県内大学・企業併せて１０か所訪問し、IT人材の交流について意見交換の場を設けた。この訪問後、連携が始まった大学・企業もあり、今後の動きに期待がもてる。
Indian-Bali-Ryukyuan joint production of the Indian epic "Ramayana" was held in Urasoe City. The performance was a full house.
３月には、設立から２２年を迎える沖印友好協会のこれまでの取り組みを、公益財団法人 日印協会の機関誌「MJIA」に掲載していただき、当協会の発信を行った。
４月には、駐日インド大使館を、沖縄県統括官、OCVB会長、恩納村長とともに表敬し、今後インドと沖縄の連携、また当協会の活動について、意見交換の場を設けた。
In September, nine months after Ambassador Sibi George's first visit to Okinawa, OIFA, Okinawa Prefecture, and Embassy of India collaborated to hold "Okinawa Day" at the Embassy of India in Japan to promote mutual understanding between Okinawa Prefecture and India. Mr. Kokuba, Senior Vice-Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, also participated in the event and spoke about further promoting exchanges between Okinawa and India.
We invited Ambassador Sibi George to introduce Okinawa Prefecture. He paid a courtesy call on the Governor of Okinawa.
Invited a resort wedding for Indian tourists, Officials from wedding-related companies to come to Okinawa for them to observe possibilities of resort weddings for Indian tourists.
A North Indian classical music concert was organized. The sitar player "Amit Roy" from Kolkata, India was welcomed to the event.
International exchange workshops were held at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST). They deepened discussions with students mostly go to universities in Okinawa and other international students from around the world.
Performance of "Kathakali" dance-drama performance in Kerala, the southernmost state of India was held. The event was sponsored by OIFA, and supported by Embassy of India in Japan, Indian Chamber of Commerce-Japan, and Institute of Sathya Sai Education, Japan. The same event was also held at elementary and junior high schools in Okinawa to promote interaction with local elementary and junior high school students.
Arranged Mr. Arun Goyal, Minister (Economic & Commercial), Embassy of India to
come to Okinawa.
Arranged Mr. Shujaat Khan, a 2004 Grammy nominee, to come to Okinawa for a
performance at Rizzan Sea-Park Hotel Tancha-Bay. It was a free event to promote
exchange India and Japan friendship.
Arranged Ambassador Mr. Alok Prasad to come to Okinawa. We paid a courtesy call
on the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) to
meet with Indian researchers working at OIST.
OIFA regularly conducts exchanges with the Okinawa Institute of Science and
Technology Graduate University (OIST), ranked 10th in the world university
rankings, and in the past has held international exchange workshops, opinion
exchange meetings including the president of OIST, dance performances, and
Diwali festivals.
Arranged Ambassador Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa, Counselor Dr. Chadaram Sivaji, and Director of The Japan-India Association, Mr. Hirabayashi, to come to Okinawa for attending 10th anniversary of OIFA. It was also the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Japan-India diplomatic relations, and celebrations were held at the same time. The ceremony was a great success, and Ambassador Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa commended the IT seminars and other activities of the OIFA.
Visited Bhutan and India for the 10th anniversary of the OIFA. A ceremony was held in Delhi for the signing of a Letter of Assurance of Cultural, Tourism Promotion & Friendship Exchange between Lions Clubs International and OIFA.
Produced first collaboration of Indian, Ryukyu and Balinese traditional performing arts performed at the National Theatre Okinawa.
Arranged Ambassador Mr. Alok Prasad to come to Okinawa for attending the Plenipotentiary General Meeting of Ambassadors. During the same period, a festival of authentic Indian Classical Dance and Culture was held. The event was a great success and the ambassador also enjoyed the show.
Arranged Mr. Yoshiro Mori, the former Prime Minister of Japan, to come to Okinawa.
Arranged Ambassador Hemant Krishan Singh to come to Okinawa for attending the unveiling ceremony of the Japan-India Animal Exchange Project Animal Exchange Monument.
Mr. Ryuko Hira, Executive Director of The Japan-India Association, was decorated with Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2010 by the State of India.
Arranged the Minister of Cultural Affairs of the Embassy of India to come to
Okinawa to join for a two-day celebration of Indian classical dance and culture.
A total of more than 1,200 people participated.
Indian culture was introduced at Palette Kumoji, Okinawa's only department
store, with a product exhibition, Indian yoga experience, and Indian dance
performances.
Arranged Ambassador Hemant Krishan Singh to come to Okinawa for the second time. Also arranged Minister, Mr. Sanjay Bhattacharyya to come to Okinawa. He also participated "Indian Elephant Visitation Ceremony" at the Zoo.
"The Festival of India" was held as an exchange program at Rizzan Sea-Park Hotel
Tancha-Bay, which boasts the largest number of guest rooms in Okinawa.
Another significant achievement was the sponsorship of the Indian Performing
Arts Dance Theater Kathakali, which was performed at the National Theatre
Okinawa.
As international cultural exchange activities, the aforementioned plays,
lectures and experiences on Ayurveda, and panel exhibitions on Indian history
and culture are regularly held to familiarize schools and various other areas in
Okinawa with India.
OIFA contributed to the realization of the animal exchange project and two Indian elephants were donated from India to Okinawa Zoo & Museum in Okinawa City, Okinawa. They are still at the Zoo and are beloved not only by local residents but also by visitors from around the world and it is a symbol of the bridge between India and Okinawa.
The Ryukyu Shimpo, one of the two major newspapers in Okinawa, published a large article on the 56th Indian Republic Day. Mr. Manilal Tripathi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Mr. Yoshiro Mori, the former Prime Minister of Japan, and Mr. Keiichi Inamine, the Governor of Okinawa, addressed India and OIFA.
Arranged Mr. Manilal Tripathi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, to
come to Okinawa.
In collaboration with the Japan-India Friendship Association, an India IT
seminar was held to promote exchange of people and technology.
Arranged Mr. Biren NANDA, Deputy Chief of Mission, Minister, and a high priest
from India to come to Okinawa for tree-planting ceremony.
A split tree of the Bodhi tree, under which Buddha is said to have attained
enlightenment, was planted across from a cenotaph "Konpaku-no-to Monument" in
Itoman City, Okinawa to commemorate all the war dead of World War II.
This was the first time since Sri Lanka in the 3rd century B.C. that the Bodhi
tree was officially taken out of India.
A high priest from India to plant the tree and sprinkling water from the Ganges
River.
Later, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama also visited this place and a
commemorative tree planting was held.
Many people visit today and it is loved as "Okinawa Bodaiju-en".
The first visit to India was conducted. Forty-one members of the OIFA
participated in the tour, visiting tourist facilities in Delhi, Agra, and
Jaipur, and interacting with local political and business representatives,
receiving a grand welcome from Government of India Tourist Office and the Indian
Union Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The tour and training in India has been held regularly since then, and is
scheduled to be held in February 2025.
Mr. Yoshiro Mori, the former Prime Minister of Japan, gave a congratulatory message. Mr. Biren NANDA, Deputy Chief of Mission, attended the founding reception as well as The Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Vice Governor of Okinawa.
Arranged Ambassador Aftab Seth of Ambassador of India to Japan to come to Okinawa.
