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October 2012

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: 63,017 (Oct. 2008)
Number of British nationals residing in Japan: 17,011 (Dec. 2008)
Trade with Japan (2009):
Exports to the UK: 1.1 trillion yen (cars, car parts, gold)
Imports from the UK: 0.53 trillion yen (medi. and pharm. products, cars, platinum)
Direct Investment from Japan:
2.04 trillion yen (2009).

VIP Visits

From Japan to UK
Year Name
2007 Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
Their Majesty The Emperor and Empress
2008 Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda
2009 Prime Minister Taro Aso
From UK to Japan
Year Name
2005 Foreign Secretary Jack Straw
Duke of York
2006 Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott
2007 Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett
Duke of York
2008 Prime Minister Gordon Brown (g8), FS David Miliband (g8)
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall
2011 Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Jeremy Browne

Recent Trend

150th anniversary of the establishment of Japan-UK relations

Year 2008 marked the 150th anniversary of the establishment of Japan-UK relations, and many cultural events took place in both countries as a large-scale public diplomacy campaign. JAPAN-UK 150 promoted Japan-related events in the UK from 2008 to 2009, while UK-JAPAN 2008 promoted UK-related ones in Japan in 2008. JAPAN-UK 150 featured 452 events overall, targeting mainly on arts and science. For UK-JAPAN 2008, 330 events took place focusing on arts, creative industries and science and innovation. As a result, these featured events contributed to enhancing interaction and mutual understanding between the two countries.

JAPAN UK JOINT STATEMENT: A Framework for the Future

HE Shinzo Abe, the Prime Minister of Japan and the Rt Hon Tony Blair MP, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland held their first summit meeting in London on 9th January, 2007, during Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's first official visit to the UK.

The two Prime Ministers reviewed the state of the bilateral relationship between Japan and the UK, exchanged views on key issues of international concern and decided to establish a framework for enhanced co-operation between the two countries. At the conclusion of the visit, the two Prime Ministers released the following joint statement.

We, the two Prime Ministers of Japan and the United Kingdom, confirm that the relationship between Japan and the UK is the best it has ever been. It is a wide-ranging relationship spanning diverse areas of activity. It derives its strength above all from our shared values and international interests. Our two countries are natural strategic partners, sharing a common global vision of peace, security and international prosperity based on sustainable development and respect for human rights and the rule of law. We have shared interests in combating key global challenges, including in the areas of international security, counter-proliferation, climate change and poverty reduction. We have a shared desire to harness the power of innovation to promote prosperous and stable global conditions.

The next two years offer a particular opportunity to develop further our bilateral relations, as we look ahead to Japan's Presidency of the G8 in 2008. Japan and the UK are determined to continue working together over this period and beyond towards achieving a peaceful and prosperous world.

Accordingly, we have decided to work towards achieving a set of objectives in the areas of international security, climate change, international development and science, technology and innovation. We commit ourselves to meet annually to review progress against these objectives and in the wider relationship. We will encourage our principal ministers and officials to establish frameworks for regular exchanges to support this process and to deepen relationships in other areas of the bilateral relationship. We further recognise that intellectual, cultural and people-to-people exchanges including tourism are important in promoting mutual understanding and as the basis for this joint cooperation. In this regard, we continue to support "the Japan-UK 21st Century Group", a useful annual forum consisting of eminent persons in diverse fields. We express our support for the further development of such activity and welcome plans for a UK year of science, art and design in Japan in 2008.

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 9,505 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.

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.

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