NTT DATA Signs MoU with NPCI International Payments Limited for UPI Payment Acceptance Across Merchants in Japan

The MoU lays foundation to enable real-time payment system "UPI" in East Asia, supporting inbound tourism from India and accelerating cashless adoption in Japan.

UPI allows secure and instant transfers between bank accounts through mobile payment applications. Since its launch in 2016, UPI has driven rapid growth in digital payments and financial inclusion across India. In September 2025 alone, the platform recorded close to 20 billion transactions, with a total transaction value crossing $ 280 billion.

"This collaboration marks an important milestone as we expand payment choices for inbound travelers from India," said Masanori Kurihara, Head of Payments Services Sector, NTT DATA. "By initiating the partnership for UPI acceptance in Japan, we aim to make shopping and payments more convenient for Indian tourists, while helping Japanese merchants capture new opportunities."

Mr. Ritesh Shukla, MD & CEO of NIPL, said, "The MoU with NTT DATA lays the foundation for enabling UPI acceptance in Japan. This partnership is an important step toward improving the digital payment experience for Indian travellers and simplifying cross-border payments. It also reflects our ambition to take UPI to more international markets and establish it as one of the most trusted digital payment systems globally."

The initiation of UPI partnership in Japan is representative of its ongoing global expansion and its first launch in East Asia. With Indian tourism to Japan on the rise, this initiative will not only contribute to merchant competitiveness by diversifying payment options but also support Japan's broader cashless strategy.

NTT DATA and NIPL will jointly examine opportunities for UPI enablement in Japan, with the objective of assessing its potential for merchants and consumers.

Source: NTT DATA media announcement