Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport of the U.K. visited Japan

September 6, 2011

Rt Hon Jeremy Richard Streynsham Hunt, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport of the U.K. visited Japan from Sunday, August 28 to Saturday, September 3 under an invitation programme of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On Thursday, 1 September, Mr. Yutaka Banno, then State Secretary for Foreign Affairs hosted lunch in honour of Mr. Hunt and they exchanged views on Japan's political situation and economic policy as well as on regional issues. Mr. Hunt expressed his appreciation for the invitation to Japan, while Mr. Banno conveyed his gratitude for various kinds of support extended by the United Kingdom following the Great East Japan Earthquake. During the visit, Mr. Hunt met Mr. Yukio Hatoyama, former Prime Minister, Mr. Seiji Maehara, Chair of Policy Research Committee of the Democratic Party of Japan, Mr. Hiromasa Yonekura, Chair of Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) and Mr. Seiichi Kondo, Commissioner for Cultural Affairs among others. Mr. Hunt also had a talk with Mr. Tsunekazu Takeda, President of the Japanese Olympic Committee and held a discussion with prominent people in the promotion of culture and art in Japan.
The programme of Mr. Hunt included a trip to Sendai, where he paid a call on Ms. Emiko Okuyama, Mayor of Sendai, witnessed progress made in recovery efforts in the area devastated by the tsunami, and visited cultural and sports facilities to share ideas with local people in relevant fields. Mr. Hunt paid a visit to Kyoto as well.