Japanese–Meitei cultural relations

Not to be confused with India–Japan 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.

An illustration of Japanese language and Meitei language (Manipuri language) in their native writing systems

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.^[1][2]

In cinema

Further information: Meitei cinema and Japanese cinema

See also: Imphal 1944

Japan Landa Imphal

Japan Landa Imphal (Meitei: ꯖꯄꯥꯟ ꯂꯥꯟꯗ ꯏꯝꯐꯥꯜ, lit. 'Imphal in the Japanese war')^[3] 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.^[4][5]

My Japanese Niece

Main article: My Japanese Niece

The title "My Japanese Niece" in three languages

My Japanese Niece (Meitei: Eigi Japangi Imou, Japanese: マイ・ジャパニーズ・ニース, romanized: mai Japaniizu niisu) is a 2015 Japanese-Meitei bilingual film, directed by Mohen Naorem.^[6] 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.^[7][8]

In language

See also: Japanese language education in India and Meitei language § Software

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" (Meitei: ꯖꯄꯥꯟ ꯂꯥꯟ, romanized: /Japaan Laan/) or "Japan Lal" (Meitei: ꯖꯄꯥꯟ ꯂꯥꯜ, romanized: /Japaan Laal/), where "Lan" or "Lal" means "battle", "combat", or "war".^[a]

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.^[16]

In literature

See also: Meitei literature and Japanese literature

"Nungshibi Japan" is a Meitei language travelogue about Japan, authored by Saratchand Thiyam, formally released in the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal.^[17]

"The Land of The Rising Sun: Numitna Thorakpham Japan Urubada" is authored by Samarendra Chongtham, published in 2008, in English and Meitei languages.^[18]

In music

Further information: Music of Manipur and Music of Japan

Shakuhachi meets Pena

Main articles: Shakuhachi meets Pena, Shakuhachi, and Pena (musical instrument)

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.^[19]

In theatres

Yamata Amasung Keibu Keioiba

Main article: Yamata Amasung Keibu Keioiba

Yamata Amasung Keibu Keioiba (English: 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.^[20][21][22]

See also

• East Asian influence on Northeast India
• Imphal Peace Museum and Maibam Lokpa Ching
• Japanese people in India
• National recognition of Meitei culture
• Classicism in Meitei civilization
• Intangible cultural heritage of Meitei civilization
• Women in Meitei civilisation

Notes

1. For the "Japan Lal",^[9];
   For the "Japan Lan",^{[10][11][12][13]};
   For the "Lān" ("Laan"),^[14];
   For the "Lāl" ("Laal"),^[15]

References

1. Meetei Kangjam, Y. (2019). Forgotten Voices of the Japan Laan: The Battle of Imphal and the Second World War in Manipur. India: INTACH.
2. Chongtham, Samarendra (2008). The Land of The Rising Sun: Numitna Thorakpham Japan Urubada. ISBN 978-81-8370-147-1.
3. "Manipur film hits silver screen after five years 20120908".
4. "Japan Landa Imphal – Manipur News". 21 August 2012.
5. "Manipur film hits silver screen after five years - Celluloid movies revived after a decade, premiered in a packed new 900-seat auditorium". www.telegraphindia.com.
6. —"My Japanese Niece Movie Review (2015) - Rating, Cast & Crew With Synopsis".
   —Times, Manipur (19 March 2013). ""My Japanese Niece" – a masterpiece from Mohen Naorem | Manipur Times".
   —"100 Thai soldiers to act in Manipuri film 'My Japanese Niece' : 19th mar13". e-pao.net.
   —"Interaction program with actors of film My Japanese Niece Junichi and Yu Asada 20130111".
7. "Japanese girl 'finds' her uncle in Manipur". The Indian Express. 2012-08-28.
8. Times, Manipur (19 March 2013). ""My Japanese Niece" – a masterpiece from Mohen Naorem | Manipur Times".
9. Mukherji, Priyadarśī (2009). Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: Contemporary Anecdotes, Reminiscences, and Wartime Reportage. Har-Anand Publications. p. 93. ISBN 978-81-241-1428-5. Due to their ignorance, and the numerically vast presence of the Japanese divisions, the people of Manipur were made to understand that this was Japan-lal (which in the Manipuri language means 'Japanese War').
10. Kangjam, Yaiphaba Meetei (2019). Forgotten Voices of the Japan Laan: The Battle of Imphal and the Second World War in Manipur. INTACH. ISBN 978-81-7305-618-5.
11. Singh, Rajkumar Mani (2002). Khwairakpam Chaoba Singh. Sahitya Akademi. p. 47. ISBN 978-81-260-1519-1. ... By that time the title was also popularly known as Japan Lan (war) as the play covered the experiences of Manipur during the Second World War. ...
12. Phuritshabam, Chaoba; Ningombam, Shreema; Haripriya, Soibam (2015-07-06). Tattooed with Taboos: An Anthology of Poetry by Three Women from Northeast India. PP. p. 8. ISBN 978-1-4828-4851-9. Manipur, a princely state before its merger with India on October 15, 1949 was a backdrop of the Second World War which was at that time locally known as Japan lan (war). ...
13. Baral, Kailash C. (2023-05-16). Cultural Forms and Practices in Northeast India. SN. p. 173. ISBN 978-981-19-9292-6. ... It was around 1940 CE, before World War II, which was generally known as Japan Lan (Japan war) that this...
14. Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary ("Lān")". dsal.uchicago.edu (in Manipuri and English). Chicago University. p. 170, 171. Retrieved 2023-12-29. lān ꯂꯥꯟ /lan/ n. war; battle. Variant: lāl. ~ ngam- /~ ŋəm/ v. to win a war. Morph: ~ ngam- [~ to win]. ~ cang- /~ cə́ŋ/ v. to engage oneself at a war. Morph: ~ cang-
15. Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary ("Lāl")". dsal.uchicago.edu (in Manipuri and English). Chicago University. p. 52, 172, 183. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
16. "World Book Day: English-Japanese-Manipuri dictionary released". Imphal Free Press. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
17. —"'Nungshibi Myanmar', 'Nungshibi Japan' released". Imphal Free Press. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
    —"'Nungshibi Myanmar', 'Nungshibi Japan' released : 10th apr23". Retrieved 2023-12-29.
    —"Saratchand Thiyam delivers two new travelogues, 'Nungshibi Myanmar' and 'Nungshibi Japan'". www.thesangaiexpress.com. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
    —"Saratchand Thiyam delivers two new travelogues, 'Nungshibi Myanmar' and 'Nungshibi Japan' : 10th apr23". Retrieved 2023-12-29.
18. Chongtham, Samarendra (2008). The Land of The Rising Sun: Numitna Thorakpham Japan Urubada. Akansha Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-8370-147-1.
19. —KanglaOnline (December 2016). "Shakuhachi meets Pena – KanglaOnline". Archived from the original on 2022-07-01.
    —"Shakuhachi meets Pena Manipuri and Japanese traditional music collaboration By James Khangenbam". Archived from the original on 2022-07-02.
    —KanglaOnline (26 November 2016). "When Japan's Shakuhaci meets pena – KanglaOnline". Archived from the original on 2022-07-01.
    —"Shakuhachi meets Pena – Manipur News". December 2016. Archived from the original on 2021-04-21.
    —"When Japan's Shakuhaci meets pena – Manipur News". 25 November 2016. Archived from the original on 2022-07-01.
20. "'য়ামাতা' অমসুং 'কৈবু কৈওইবা'" (PDF). hueiyenlanpao.com (in Manipuri).
21. "Yamata Amasung Keibu Keioiba – 21st Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2020". Archived from the original on 2021-04-22.
22. "Heisnam Tomba's Play: Yamata Amasung Keibu Keioiba". SB. 2020-02-16.

External links