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February 2010

Basic Data

Diplomatic Relations:
Established in October 1854 with the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Trade.
Japanese Nationals:
Number of Japanese nationals residing in UK: 50,864 (Oct. 2002)
Number of British nationals residing in Japan: 17,527 (Dec. 2001)
Trade with Japan (2002):
Exports to the UK: 1.5 trillion yen (cars, car parts, wireless sets)
Imports from the UK: 0.68 trillion yen (medi. and pharm. products, cars, alcohol)
Direct Investment from Japan:
531 billion yen (2002).

VIP Visits

From Japan to UK
Year Name
2000 Foreign Minister Yohei Kono, Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori
2001 HIH Crown Prince Naruhito
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
2002 Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka

Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi
2003 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi
HIH Princess Hisako of Takamado
HIH Princess Nobuko of Tomohito
HIH Princess Akiko of Tomohito
2004 HIH Prince Tomohito
HIH Princess Akiko of Tomohito
HIH Princess Tsuguko of Takamado
2005 Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura
From UK to Japan
Year Name
2000 Duke of Kent, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, Prime Minister Tony Blair
2001 Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott
2002 HRH Prince Andrew, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott
2003 Prime Minister Tony Blair, HRH Prince Edward
2004 HRH Prince Edward, HRH Prince Andrew

Recent Trend

Cultural Exchanges

  • "Festival UK98" in 1998 in Japan gave great impetus to cultural and sporting links. "Japan 2001," a major series of Japanese cultural, educational and sporting events to be held throughout the UK in 2001, will strengthen them further. It will promote the introduction of cultural arts, traditional culture, Japanese local culture, pop culture and lifestyle with particular emphasis on participatory events.
  • Events are intended to include both viewing and participative occasions. Amongst the more high profile events there is likely to be an exhibition "Sacred Art of Ancient Japan" at the British Museum, a rare event outside Japan; and 'Contemporary Art' and 'Japanese Contemporary Photo' exhibitions are planned as well. As for the performing arts, Ganjiro Nakamura and the Chikamatsu-za Kabuki troupe will come to the UK for Kabuki performances. They will play from the works of Chikamatsu Monzaemon, who is described in Japan as the 'Japanese Shakespeare.' Moreover, modern Japanese daily culture, such as fashion, animation, industrial design, pop, films and television programmes will be a major element of Japan 2001.
  • The participative events will include demonstrations of Japanese food, educational exchanges, grass-root exchanges, sports exchanges and festival type events in the Japanese style. These colourful participative programmes will be enjoyed by people of all ages and by those in the UK not familiar with Japan.

"Action Agenda 21: The UK and Japan in the 21st Century"

  • Foreign Ministers Cook and Komura launched the new "Action Agenda 21" in Tokyo on 6 September, 1999. The 21st Century offers new opportunities for the special partnership between the United Kingdom and Japan. Japan is at the heart of the United Kingdom's policy towards the Asia Pacific region. The United Kingdom remains Japan's partner of choice in Europe. Building on the "Common Vision for the 21st Century" announced by both Prime Ministers in Tokyo in January 1998, "Action Agenda 21" outlines 21 areas for practical cooperation, focusing on areas such as;
    1. 1. People-to-People Link
      People-to-people links are the basis of the relationship. In order to strengthen them further, we will encourage cooperation in areas including: the introduction of so called working holiday scheme; Japan 2001, a major series of Japanese cultural, educational and sporting events throughout the UK in 2001; UK-Japan Parliamentary seminar.
    2. 2. Mutual Prosperity
      Both countries face common challenges. In order to enhance prosperity in the 21st Century, we will work together in areas including: close cooperation in the next round of negotiations to be launched at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Seattle; early conclusion of a social security agreement between the UK and Japan; promotion of PFI.
    3. 3. A Better World
      Both countries will work for a successful G8 Kyushu-Okinawa Summit. In tackling global issues, while focussing on conflict prevention, peacekeeping and human security, we will cooperate in areas such as: reform of the UN; humanitarian and development assistance in third countries; non-proliferation and disarmament issues including initiatives on small arms; human rights issues.

"Action Japan"

  • In 1988, the UK Government started a campaign designed to help UK companies access business opportunities in Japan. From 1987 to 1991, UK exports to Japan increased by 75%. Following the "Priority Japan Campaign (1991-94)," "Action Japan" was launched in April 1994. Three pillars of the campaign are Selling to the Japanese, Investing in Japan and Learning from Japan. It identified thirteen priority sectors and it focused on concrete business opportunities for UK companies. "Action Japan" was relaunched in April, 1998. The following nine new initiative sectors have been selected and the new strategies and activities will be decided soon. These nine sectors include: health care equipment, third country business, food and drink, construction, telecommunications/software, power generation, fashion/home and gardening.
  • The Japanese side has been vigorously supporting "Action Japan" by setting up working groups corresponding to the priority sectors and advising UK companies and the DTI. "Action Japan" is organised by British Trade International, in cooperation with the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO).

JET Programme

  • The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme seeks to help enhance internationalization in Japan, by promoting mutual understanding between Japan and other nations. This programme has so far given about 4,500 young people in the UK the opportunity to learn more about Japan, through their experience as Assitant Language Teacher, Cordinator for International Relations, or Sports Exchange Advisor. JET participants play important roles for a better mutual understanding between people the two countries. For example, many of UK JETs took active parts in organizing cultural, sporting events in connection with the Festival UK 98.

UK-Japan 21st Century Group

  • The UK-Japan 21st Century Group is a wise-men's group established in 1985 as UK-Japan 2000 Group to study the modality of Japan-UK cooperation, based on the agreement between then Prime Minister Nakasone and the Prime Minister Thatcher. It is a custom that recommendations adopted through discussions at the meeting are submitted to the Prime Ministers of the two countries. For example, the group, after the Fifteenth Conference held in March in Chiba, recommended that working holiday scheme should be introduced between Japan and UK as an effective vehicle to enhance mutual understanding among the youth of the two countries. This idea was supported by Prime Minister Obuchi and Prime Minister Blair in June 1999.

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Press Secretary's Press Conference on U.K.

Year Month Date
2008 July 7
2007 July 17
May 18
2006 July 18, 24
January 13, 31
2005 September 13
July 8
June 28
2004 February 20
2003 July 15, 18
2002 July 16
February 12
2001 January 19
2000 February 29
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