In Japanese, `Nippon' means the country of rising sun. It is their deshi word for Japan. INFA was formally established in 1994 in Pune and is affiliated to the Kawasaki International (Indo) club (KIC) of Kawasaki, Japan. INFA in Pune and KIC in Kawasaki, together organise and conduct a variety of programmes, so that the two cultures can understand and appreciate each other better. Though both Japan and India belong to the `Oriental world', their people know more about the Western world than each other. This may be because attention tends to gather around those who are loud and noisy. However thanks to INFA and KIC, the sisterly relationship between Pune and Kawasaki is flourishing at the people level, unfettered by the usual governmental formalities.

Over the last few years, the mutual discovery process has taken significant strides. At the Pune festival and on a plethora of other occasions, INFA has brought Japanese and Indian artists, sportsmen, students, educationalists and many others together. Giving details, Chandrashekhar Rathod, the secretary of INFA says, ``During a Kawasaki Pune fair organised by INFA, a 32-member delegation headed by the President of KIC, Shuichi Osamura came from Kawasaki city and participated actively. On this occasion, the members of INFA hosted various Indian cultural programmes. This included performances by Ustad Usman Khan and Milind Tulankar who are both members of INFA. From their part, the Japanese artists enchanted the audience with traditional dances, drum shows, Ikebana (floral arrangement) and their regal Kimono attire''.

Every year INFA sends drawings by school children of Pune to Kawasaki for exhibition. KIC then forwards these to compete at the UNESCO league of Japan. So far three students of Pune have won prizes at the UNESCO league. The Japanese children view these drawings in fascination and send uninhibited questions such as, ``Are there real camels and elephants in India, or is it the sheer imagination of the artist who creates these characters?''

Rathod has a first-hand experience of Japan as his company sent him on a one-year training there at JVC. Most people experience a cultural shock when they go to a new country. However Rathod says, ``After relishing the orderly life of Japan for a year, I experienced a shock when I arrived back here''! Rathod also disclosed that there is a Marathi mandal in Tokyo. ``The Marathi mandal of Tokyo has a home page on the Internet were you can chat.'' The address is http://www.japan.co.jp/ marathi/index.htm.

Whether your interest in Japan is related to education, business, tourism or plain curiosity, INFA can help you with information, contacts and general guidance. Rathod says, ``When some technical or such information is not available here, we ask our Japanese friends at Kawasaki. They are more than willing to provide it.'' INFA has compiled a booklet containing information for anyone travelling to Japan. In addition to travel information, it includes Marathi and English translations of some vital Japanese words.

We may live in an imperfect world, where self-serving leaders deliberately exaggerate differences and widen distances between people. However man's yearning to transcend the frontiers of limited perspectives will continue to build bridges at the people level. The Indo-Nippon Friendship Association has proved this.