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Speech by H.E. Yoshiji Nogami, Ambassador of Japan to the Court of St James's, at the Japan Society / JCCI Combined Lunch on Wednesday 12 December 2007 Japan - UK Relations - Past, Present and Future - BY H.E. YOSHIJI NOGAMI Ladies and Gentlemen, As many of you will already know, the year 2008 marks the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Amity and Commerce. This Treaty was signed in Edo between Lord Elgin and 6 representatives of the Shogunate on 26th August 1858, when Britain was at the height of its power in the Victorian era and Japan was in the interreign of the 13th and 14th Shogun. Although this was an unequal treaty, it formed the basis for diplomatic relations to be established between both countries and for mutual exchange to begin. Today, I would like to revisit the history of Japan-UK relations, which have overcome many ups and downs, as well as to give an insight into the future of bilateral relations between the two countries. Looking back at the history of both countries over the past 150 years, I would say that the overall record is quite positive. In general, the relationship has been very good - except, of course, for the 40 years of difficulties, which started with the lapsing of the Anglo-Japan Alliance in the 1920s. These years of confrontation culminated in the Second World War, and our relations remained low-key for about 20 years afterwards. Then, however, the Japan-UK relationship began to evolve in a meaningful way and returned to a sort of normal friendship pattern. So apart from this troubled period, I think the Japan-UK relationship, seen from the Japanese side, has been the strongest among any of our relationships with European countries - and not only with Europe, but one of the strongest globally. So, over the last 150 years, we can discern about 100 good years and close to 50 difficult years. I think at two to one the scorecard is very good. Anglo-Japanese history is full of remarkable episodes. In the early years of exchange, we learned a lot from Britain. In fact, many leading figures in the Meiji Restoration, people like Ito Hirobumi, Inoue Kaoru and Mori Arinori, came here to study while Japan was still closed to the outside. Most of these students of the Meiji Restoration periods studied at University College, London. And in a more recent chapter of history, another very interesting person studied there - Koizumi Junichiro! So UCL clearly encouraged Japanese politicians to be rather brave with regard to reform. During the nation-building era after the Meiji Restoration, the Japanese Government asked for the expertise of foreign scholars and engineers. There was a huge input from Britain in fields such as railways and architecture. Most notable as regards the latter was Josiah Condor, who designed all the office buildings in front of Tokyo station, including the Mitsubishi No.1 House. Actually, the Mitsubishi No.1 House or Mitsubishi Ichigokan, is currently being restored as a museum using the old design and will be opened in spring 2009. I am very excited about this reopening because of the museum itself, of course, but also as it will be surrounded by lots of expertly chosen Victorian roses. The fact that I am an expert may, of course, play a part in my excitement! As for railways, it was a British engineer, Edmund Morel, who played the crucial role in the laying of Japan's first railway between Tokyo and Yokohama. Amazingly, it was only this year that the first ever Japanese trains landed in this country. One of the leading Japanese electronics companies, HITACHI, has been nominated to build new bullet trains to operate between Kent and central London - a service which will play a crucial role in the transport infrastructure for the Olympic Games in 2012. In Japan we say that one should never forget to repay a favour and finally, albeit 150 years later, we are doing just that with the railway system! In this connection, one rather regrettable thing is that when it came to the setting up of soft infrastructure like the legal structure, Japan relied quite heavily on Continental Europe, such as the Prussian or French model, rather than on Britain. In a way, I think, we are still feeling this impact. As you will know, when Gordon Brown succeeded Tony Blair and appointed his cabinet ministers in June, he created overnight two new government departments by splitting the Department for Education and Skills. This could never happen in Japan. Each and every Japanese government ministry has its own law which defines its structure. Therefore, establishing a new ministry or any reorganisation of government ministries necessitates a complicated legal process. I believe that this writing down of everything in the form of law in fact gives a certain rigidity to Japanese society, sometimes becoming a constraint when Japan needs swift and drastic change or reform. Following the early years of exchange, Japan and the UK forged an alliance mainly for the purpose of dealing with Russia, in 1902. The signing of the?Anglo-Japanese Alliance (Nichi-ei-doumei) provided both Japan and Britain a with much-needed counterweight to Russian expansion to Asia and did contribute directly or indirectly to Japan's victory in the battle of Tsushima and eventually in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905. In fact, Admiral Togo's celebrated flagship during the Russo-Japanese War, Mikasa, was built in Newcastle, and all the ships engaged in the battle of Tsushima were armed with guns and cannons built, again, in Newcastle. In comparison with those episodes of the Edo and early Meiji eras, there are a few stories from the late Meiji and Taisho eras worth noting - in particular, intellectual exchanges between artists and craftsmen between of our two countries. For example, it was the ideas of William Morris, one of the principal founders of the British Arts and Crafts Movement and a pioneer socialist and designer, which inspired the young Japanese intellectuals of the Shirakaba School. And it was through them that Bernard Leach, while in Japan as a young artist, learnt of the Arts and Crafts Movement. Other young Japanese intellectuals were also influenced by this aesthetic movement, such as Yanagi Muneyoshi, founder of the Mingei (Folk Art) Movement in Japan, Tomimoto Kenkichi, Hamada Shouji and Kawai Kanjiro. Most of them later came to the UK, with Hamada famously working together with Leach in Cornwall. I am referring to this because the Bernard Leach Pottery in St Ives created by Hamada and Leach will be fully restored next spring. There is another story in the Taisho era that is not well-known. During the First World War, warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy were dispatched to the Mediterranean in 1917 at the request of the British Navy, based on the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, to protect ships in Europe from German submarines. During this operation, one of Japan's destroyers was attacked near Malta, and in the fierce battle that followed more than 50 Japanese seamen died. There is now a Japanese naval monument in the very centre of the British naval cemetery in Malta, which symbolises Britain's appreciation of Japan's support. The Times of those days evaluated most highly the Japanese warships "speedy and courageous actions and concern." Clearly, the activities of these Japanese naval ships in the Mediterranean made a significant contribution to the performance of the Allied forces. After the First World War and the termination of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance in 1923, however, relations between the two countries deteriorated, leading to many days of confrontation and eventually culminating in the Second World War. Although the end of the Second World War did not immediately lead to the restoration of the Anglo-Japanese relations, our bilateral ties gradually improved. Of course we experienced difficult times in the post war era with issues such as POWs and trade friction in the 70s and 80s. But many of the difficulties have now been largely overcome by efforts on both sides leaving our bilateral ties in excellent shape. The joint statement issued by our prime ministers in January referred to the relationship as "the best it has ever been." However, no bilateral relationship is self-sustaining. It requires uninterrupted review, input and effort if it is to be sustained and developed. Let me explain here one of our initiatives to consolidate these excellent bilateral relations for future generations. Commemorating the 150th anniversary of friendship between our countries, the Embassy, in close cooperation with The Japan Society and JCCI, is organising an exchange programme, "JAPAN-UK 150 (one-fifty)", commencing in the autumn of 2008. It is designed, of course, to promote and further our relations. This endeavour will provide an opportunity for projects including exhibitions, cultural events, seminars and symposia to take place. Our programme coincides with "UK-JAPAN 2008", in which the UK side will be playing the leading role all over Japan. I would like to take this opportunity to ask for your active support and cooperation for this "JAPAN-UK 150" programme. In conclusion, I always think that the Japan-UK relationship is in many respect unique. Of course our relations are not as visible or eye-catching as Japan-US ties or more sensitive relationships such as that between Japan and China. But our relationship is very well-established and mature. I felt this when I visited the "Crafting Beauty" exhibition at the British Museum, which turned out to be a great success. Although the number of visitors might have been exceeded by those attending the ongoing "First Emperor" exhibition, the craftsmanship of our "Living National Treasures" attracted a great deal of attention from many distinguished people here in the UK. Both countries have so much in common, so much to share. Both are island nations, have a monarchy and practice parliamentary democracy. We now share fundamental values including the rule of law, respect for human rights, and adherence to democracy and a market economy. Japan and Britain have indeed forged relations in which both countries enjoy a balance of give and take. Beyond that, both countries are working together to tackle global issues such as climate change and international security. It is a great relief as Japanese Ambassador to say that the only imbalance I have recently witnessed is the number of stars the Michelin guide has given to Tokyo and London! Thank you very much.

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