Japan Month 2026 opens in Delhi with a focus on sake and cultural exchange

Japan Month 2026 has opened in Delhi with an evening centred on Japanese culture, food and drink at the residence of Japanese Ambassador to India ONO Keiichi.

The launch began with violinist Shunsuke Kojima performing “Chhoti Si Aasha” from the 1992 film *Roja*. The ambassador spoke about the shared values underpinning ties between India and Japan, before the programme turned to sake and shochu made using traditional koji brewing techniques.

Sake sommelier Maaya Takaoka explained that sake can work well alongside Indian cuisine because its umami character, low acidity and minimal tannins are less likely to clash with spices. Its gentle sweetness can also soften heat in food, she said.

Yuichi Hashiba, the sixth-generation head of a Japanese sake producer, introduced the drink to guests during his first visit to India. The launch placed sake at the centre of a wider cultural exchange, with Japanese drinks presented not just as a specialist offering but as a possible pairing for familiar Indian flavours.

For Delhi’s food and culture community, the event signals a Japan Month programme that begins with culinary traditions alongside performance and diplomatic exchange.