Japanese–Meitei cultural relations

Japanese people and Meitei people (also known as Manipuri people) have a long history of sharing and interacting with each other's art and cultural heritages, including but not limited to cinema, music, mythology, language, literature and theatre.

Japanese culture and Meitei culture started their interaction, interconnection, interrelation, significantly during and after the occurrence of the Battle of Imphal as a part of the WWII, fought between British Empire and Empire of Japan, with the Imphal Valley (primary homeland of the Meiteis) in central Manipur as its main battleground.

Japan Landa Imphal
Japan Landa Imphal is a 2012 Indian Meitei language WWII historical romantic fiction film about a romance between a Meitei lady and a Japanese soldier, who met each other, during the outbreak of the WWII's Battle of Imphal, in Imphal Valley.

My Japanese Niece
My Japanese Niece (Eigi Japangi Imou, マイ・ジャパニーズ・ニース) is a 2015 Japanese-Meitei bilingual film, directed by Mohen Naorem. It shows three major roles; the Japanese soldier (played by Junichi Kajioka), the Japanese niece named Asada (played by actress Yu Asada) and the adopted daughter.

In language
In Meitei language (officially called Manipuri language), the Battle of Imphal, a historical WWII Japanese-British combat fought in Imphal, is popularly known as "Japan Lan" or "Japan Lal", where "Lan" or "Lal" means "battle", "combat", or "war".

Multilingual dictionary
On the World Book Day 2022, the Sahitya Thoupang Lup (STL) published a trilingual dictionary of English, Japanese and Meitei languages, written in Latin script, authored by Ph. Nandakumar Sharma, in a function organised in the DIPR Auditorium in Imphal West district. It was produced in the aim to help Meitei speaking students who are learning or want to learn Japanese language, as well as vice versa.

In literature
"Nungshibi Japan" is a Meitei language travelogue about Japan, authored by Saratchand Thiyam, formally released in the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal.

"The Land of The Rising Sun: Numitna Thorakpham Japan Urubada" is authored by Samarendra Chongtham, published in 2008, in English and Meitei languages.

Shakuhachi meets Pena
Shakuhachi meets Pena is a maiden India-Japan musical collaboration, which is a fusion of the traditional musical instrument Shakuhachi of Japanese culture and the traditional Pena (musical instrument) of Meitei culture. — — — — —

Yamata Amasung Keibu Keioiba
Yamata Amasung Keibu Keioiba (Yamata-no-Orochi and Keibu Keioiba) is a Meitei language theatrical production, showing a fusion of mythological stories of Keibu Keioiba of Meitei mythology and Yamata-no-Orochi of Japanese mythology, written and directed by Heisnam Tomba, and produced by the Kalakshetra Manipur.