UK-JAPAN 21st CENTURY GROUP

1985–Present

The UK-Japan 21st Century Group was launched in 1985 at the joint recommendation of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone. Originally known as the UK-Japan 2000 Group, it is a coalition of private sector, public sector, and civil society leaders from both countries that aims to promote dialogue and cooperation between the two countries. 

The group’s primary goal is to serve as a catalyst for increasing the level of mutual understanding and awareness of the political, economic, and social environments in each country. Members of the group, representing industry, finance, academia, the media, and government, meet annually in conferences held alternately in the UK and Japan. The conferences address a wide range of issues facing the two countries, including educational and cultural exchange, global security systems, investment and development, and policies for coping with aging societies. Following each of the group’s meetings, a summary report and recommendations are submitted to the prime ministers of both countries.

Participants meeting with PM Abe (2017)
JCIE serves as the secretariat in Japan and the Japan Society of the United Kingdom in London acts as its British counterpart.

PROGRAM NEWS


UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 40th Conference

February 2–4, 2024 | Tokyo and Odawara, Kanagawa

The 40th annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group met in Tokyo and Odawara to discuss critical issues facing bilateral relations and global geopolitics, including security, trade, climate cha…


UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 39th Conference

January 12-15, 2023 | London and Norwich

The 39th annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group met in London from January 13 to January 15, a welcome change from the online program necessitated last year by the COVID-19 pandemic.


UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 38th Conference

March 8 & 11, 2022 | Online

The 38th annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group was held online due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic with the participation of around 20 members from each country, who held discussions on t…


UK-Japan 21st Century Group Webinar | The Future Direction of Japan Under Prime Minister Suga

February 25, 2021 | Online

The UK-Japan 21st Century Group  held its first online webinar to discuss Japan’s future under Prime Minister Suga.


UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 37th Conference

September 11–12, 2020 | Online

The 37th annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic with the participation of 20 members from each country, who held discussions on the latest polit…


UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 36th Conference

September 6–8, 2019 | London and Cantebury

The 36th annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group convened in London and Cantebury at the height of a dramatic period in the Brexit saga as Prime Minister Boris Johnson had just announced pla…


UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 35th Conference

August 31–September 2, 2018 | Tokyo and Kamakura

The 35th annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group convened in Japan on August 31–September 2, 2018. The group held in-depth discussions on a broad range of issues impacting the two countries…


UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 34th Conference

September 7–10, 2017 | London, Cambridge, United Kingdom

The 34th annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group convened in the UK on September 7–10, 2017, in London and Cambridge. The group held in-depth discussions on a broad range of issues relating…


UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 33rd Conference

October 6–9, 2016 | Tokyo

The 33rd annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group convened in Japan on October 6–9. The group held discussions on a broad range of issues that affect the two countries and their relationship.


UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 32nd Conference

September 3–6, 2015 | London and Ditchley Park, Oxfordshire, UK

The 32nd annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group convened in London and Ditchley Park, Oxfordshire, on September 3–6, 2015. A total of 34 senior Japanese and British leaders engaged in a ser…


UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 31st Conference

May 14–18, 2014 | Hakone, Japan

The 31st annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group convened 40 Japanese and British leaders on May 14–18, 2014 to discuss issues impacting each country and their relationship.


UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 30th Conference

May 1–6, 2013 | London, West Sussex, United Kingdom

The 30th annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group convened in London and West Sussex on May 1–6, 2013. Over forty senior Japanese and British leaders engaged in a series of roundtable discuss…


29th UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 29th Conference

May 23–26, 2012 | Tokyo

The 29th annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group convened in Tokyo on May 23–26, 2012. Fifty senior Japanese and British leaders engaged in a series of roundtable discussions on issues such…


UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 28th Conference

May 19–22, 2011 | London

The 28th annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group was convened in London on May 19–22, 2011. Thirty-two senior Japanese and British figures discussed areas for potential greater collaboration…


UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 27th Conference

October 21–24, 2010 | Tokyo, Karuizawa, Japan

The 27th annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group took place on October 21–24, 2010. Bringing 34 leaders from the two countries together, the forum included meetings on a range of domestic an…