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 plans the previous week to suspend parliament. The group—comprised of politicians, journalists, businesspeople, and scholars—held in-depth discussions on a broad range of issues, including the latest political and economic developments in each country, the implications of Brexit for UK-Japan relations, ways to further expand UK-Japan trade and promote free trade, energy security and sustainability, mutual security challenges and collaboration, and potential collaboration in the areas of technology, health, and life sciences.
A summary of discussions and recommendations (available below) was prepared by the co-chairs and presented to their respective governments.
September 5
September 6
CANTERBURY PROGRAMME
Opening remarks by Co-Chairmen of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group
Yasuhisa Shiozaki and Lord Lansley
Introduction to the University of Kent at Canterbury
Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost David Nightingale
Session 1: Latest Developments in UK Politics and the Economy
SPEAKERS:
Prof. Richard G. Whitman, University of Kent
Lord McConnell, House of Lords
Session 2: Latest Developments in Japanese Politics and the Economy
SPEAKERS:
Karen Makishima, Member, House of Representatives (LDP)
Shuji Inatomi, Member, House of Representatives (DPFP)
Yoshinori Nakata, Director-General, International Department, Bank of Japan
Dinner
September 7
Session 3: Trade, Investment, and the Global Economy
UK SPEAKER: Sir David Wright, Group Global Advisor, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group
JAPANESE SPEAKER: Yorizumi Watanabe, Dean, School of International Communications, Kansai University of International Studies
Session 4: Energy: Security, Sustainability, and Economy
UK SPEAKER: Barny Evans, WSP UK Ltd.
JAPANESE SPEAKER: Yukari Yamashita, Board Member, Director, Charge of Energy Data and Modelling Center, Institute of Energy Economics, Japan
Session 5: Russia and China: Security Challenges for the UK and Japan
UK SPEAKER: Mr. James Nixey, Chatham House
JAPANESE SPEAKER: Satoru Mori, Professor, Hosei University
Session 6: Policy Responses to Digital Revolution
UK SPEAKER: Dr. Carlos López-Gómez, Head Policy Links, University of Cambridge
JAPANESE SPEAKER: Toshinori Kajiura, Senior Researcher, Hitachi Ltd.
Dinner
GUEST SPEAKER: Tsutomu Ishiai, Former London Bureau Chief and European Editor, Asahi Shimbun
September 8
Session 7: Chairmen’s Summary Dialogue
Session 8: Conclusions and Recommendations
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JAPANESE PARTICIPANTS |
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Yasuhisa Shiozaki |
Co-Chairman, UK-Japan 21st Century Group; former Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare; Member of the House of Representatives (LDP) |
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Masatomi Akana |
Corporate Officer, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Global Value & Access, Eisai Co., Ltd. |
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Akinari Horii |
Special Advisor and Member of the Board of Directors, Canon Institute for Global Studies, Tokyo |
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Shuji Inatomi |
Member of the House of Representatives (DPFP) |
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Tsutomu Ishiai |
Former London Bureau Chief and European Editor, The Asahi Shimbun |
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Toshinori Kajiura |
Senior Researcher, Hitachi Ltd. |
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Isao Kano |
Senior Vice President, Regional CEO, Europe, Mitsubishi Corporation; Managing Director, Mitsubishi Corporation International (Europe) PLC |
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Yasuyuki Kawasaki |
Deputy Chairman, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. |
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Hironobu Kurosaki |
President and CEO, NEC Europe Ltd. |
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Karen Makishima |
Member of the House of Representatives (LDP) |
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Satoru Mori |
Professor, Hosei University |
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Kenji Nakanishi |
Member of the House of Councillors (LDP) |
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Yoshinori Nakata |
Director-General, International Department, Bank of Japan |
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Akio Okawara |
President, Japan Center for International Exchange; Japanese Executive Director, UK-Japan 21st Century Group |
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Ryo Sahashi |
Associate Professor of International Politics, Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, University of Tokyo |
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Jun Takao |
General Bureau Chief for Europe, Middle East and Africa, NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) |
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Yasuo Tanabe |
Special Representative for External Relations, Hitachi, Ltd. |
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Hitoshi Tanaka |
Chairman, Institute for International Strategy (IIS), Japan Research Institute, Ltd.; Former Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs; Senior Fellow, Japan Center for International Exchange |
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Koji Tsuruoka |
Japanese Ambassador to UK |
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Yukari Yamashita |
Board Member, Director, Charge of Energy Data and Modelling Center (EDMC), The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan; President-Elect, International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE) |
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Yorizumi Watanabe |
Dean, School of International Communication, Kansai University of International Studies; Emeritus Professor, Keio University |
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UK PARTICIPANTS |
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Lord (Andrew) Lansley |
UK Co-Chairman, UK-Japan 21st Century Group |
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Lord (Jack) Cunningham |
Executive Chairman and Director, Navitas Resources UK |
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Alan Donnelly |
Executive Chairman Sovereign Strategy |
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Barny Evans |
Head of Sustainable Places and Energy, WSP UK Ltd |
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Philippe Fauchet |
Founder, Mirasense Partners |
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David Fitton |
UK Executive Director, UK-Japan 21st Century Group |
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Baroness (Sue) Garden |
House of Lords |
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Carlos López-Gómez |
Head Policy Links, University of Cambridge |
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Lord (Jack) McConnell |
House of Lords |
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H.E. Paul Madden |
British Ambassador to Japan |
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John Nilsson-Wright |
Senior Lecturer in Modern Japanese Politics and International Relations, Cambridge University and head of the Asia Programme at Chatham House |
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James Nixey |
Head, Russia and Eurasia Programme, Chatham House |
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David Richardson |
Non Executive Director, Crown Agents |
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Nigel Talboys |
Global Director, Government Affairs and Public Policy, Terumo BCT Europe |
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David Warren |
Associate Fellow of the Asia Programme of Chatham House and Chair of Council at the University of Kent |
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Richard G Whitman |
Professor of Politics and International Relations, University of Kent |
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Sir David Wright |
Group Global Advisor, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group |
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Kyoko Hokugo |
Director, Western Europe Division, European Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
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Jun Miura |
Minister, Embassy of Japan |
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Eiji Nishikawa |
Business Development Director, BAE Systems (International) Ltd |
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Yuta Saisho |
Deputy Director, Western Europe Division, European Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
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Yukari Sato |
Researcher, Institute for International Strategy (IIS), Japan Research Institute, Ltd. |
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Takuya Tanimoto |
First Secretary, Embassy of Japan |
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Haru Tsuyukubo |
President and Representative Director, Rolls Royce |
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Victoria Tuke |
Head, Japan, Korea and East Asia Team, Foreign and Commonwealth Office |
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Takeshi Yamamoto |
General Manager, Corporate Planning Division, NEC Corporation |
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SECRETARIAT |
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Gabriele Maletta |
UK Secretariat, UK-Japan 21stCentury Group; Japan Society |
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Hifumi Tajima |
Japanese Secretariat, UK-Japan 21st Century Group; Chief Program Officer, Japan Center for International Exchange |
