The Japan Society

Emma Hickinbotham

Emma Hickinbotham first visited Japan in 1997 as a Monbusho scholar, spending a year at Kanazawa University as part of her degree in Japanese at Liverpool John Moores University. After graduating, she worked as a Co-ordinator of International Relations (CIR) on the JET Programme on a small fishing island in Oita prefecture promoting the UK in the local community and developing a repertoire of karaoke numbers.

On returning to London Emma started her career in finance at Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi, then RBS, working in front and middle office roles. After having children, Emma moved from the City into events and marketing, working with private and corporate clients, and in 2014 Emma and her family moved to Tokyo where they spent six years. She initially worked as a marketing consultant for overseas brands, then took over running the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan before moving to the British Embassy where she was Head of Media, Communications and
Marketing for three years. Since returning to the UK,
Emma has been working as Senior Communications Director for Big Society Capital, the UK’s leading social impact investment company.

Emma is a keen cyclist and has spent many happy weekends in the Surrey Hills or the mountains west of Tokyo and has twice competed in the Mount Fuji Hill Climb race. She enjoys all sport, particularly rugby and cricket, and has held volunteer roles with youth rugby and cricket clubs. She is also a trustee for a charity, Alopecia UK. Emma lives in London with her husband and three children.