NTT DATA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), to enable Unified Payments Interface (UPI) acceptance across merchants in Japan.
The agreement lays the foundation for introducing India’s real-time payment system in East Asia, supporting inbound tourism from India and accelerating cashless adoption in Japan. Once implemented, Indian tourists will be able to make secure, instant payments at Japanese merchants through UPI-enabled apps, powered by NTT DATA’s payment infrastructure.
Since its launch in 2016, UPI has revolutionised digital payments in India, recording nearly 20 billion transactions worth over $280 billion in September 2025 alone. The collaboration marks UPI’s first major step into East Asia, furthering its global expansion and promoting seamless cross-border payment experiences.
“This collaboration marks an important milestone as we expand payment choices for inbound travellers from India,” said Masanori Kurihara, Head of Payments Services Sector, NTT DATA.
“By initiating UPI acceptance in Japan, we aim to make shopping and payments more convenient for Indian tourists while helping Japanese merchants capture new opportunities,” he added.
Ritesh Shukla, MD & CEO, NIPL, noted, “The MoU with NTT DATA lays the foundation for enabling UPI acceptance in Japan. This partnership is a key step in improving digital payment experiences for Indian travellers and reflects our ambition to make UPI one of the most trusted digital payment systems globally.”
The initiative is expected to strengthen Japan’s broader cashless strategy while supporting the growing number of Indian tourists visiting the country. NTT DATA and NIPL will jointly explore opportunities for UPI integration, assessing its potential benefits for both merchants and consumers in Japan.
Send news announcements/press releases to:
info@b2bmarketmedia.com
