UK Japan 21st Century Group                 

The UK-Japan 21st Century Group was established in 1984 as the UK-Japan 2000 Group at the joint recommendation of the British and Japanese Prime Ministers, Margaret Thatcher and Yasuhiro Nakasone. It is the most senior bilateral body acting in the sphere of UK-Japan relations and maintains close ties with both governments and with related organisations.

The primary purpose of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group is to promote dialogue and cooperation between the two countries. Members include parliamentarians, business leaders and representatives from the media, think tanks and academia. At the Group’s annual conference, held alternate years in the UK and Japan, delegates discuss any issue that might affect our bilateral ties and make suggestions on how to enhance them. The Chairmen’s summary and recommendations from the conference are then sent to both Prime Ministers and to government departments for consideration and action.

The Co-Chairmen of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group are The Rt Hon Lord Lansley CBE PC and Mr Keizo Takemi MP. Together, they lead discussions on political, economic and social developments in both countries, on opportunities for industrial cooperation, and on issues relating to trade and investment, global security, health, international development and education.

39th Annual Conference, in Norwich, 13 -15 January 2023

Members of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group January 2023

The 39th Annual Conference of the UK Japan 21st Century Group took place in Norwich on 13-15 January, preceded by a day of meetings and events in London. Among other topics, conference sessions addressed the latest developments in Japanese and UK politics and the economy; global health issues, including lessons learnt from the Covid pandemic; the security and defence challenges facing the UK and Japan; economic Security and supply chains; and the prospects for international development collaboration.

 Report and Recommendations from the 39th Annual Conference (2023)

Full details of previous conferences can be found here. As well as the annual conference, the Group organises other Japan-related ad-hoc events in the UK during the course of each year. Corporate sponsors are also invited to annual lunches, hosted by the Japanese Ambassador in London and the British Ambassador in Tokyo.

The UK-Japan 21st Century Group greatly benefits from the support of its corporate sponsors, BAE Systems, Crown Agents and Terumo BCT Europe, and from an annual contribution by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

Members of the Board of Directors

Lord Lansley of Orford CBE (Chairman)
Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale PC (Treasurer)
David Fitton CMG (Executive Director)
Baroness Barker
Dr Lisa Cameron MP
Paul Madden CMG
Dr John Nilsson-Wright
Thomas Reich
David Richardson
Nigel Talboys

A wider informal group of members, representing a range of UK-Japan interests and experience, are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting and to participate in other events arranged by the Group.

For further information about the UK-Japan 21st Century Group, including membership and sponsorship enquiries, contact David Fitton, Executive Director (david@fitton.org.uk).

The UK-Japan 21st Century Group is a company limited by guarantee (registered in England No. 2042768) and is registered with the Charity Commission (registration number 295006). The Group’s UK secretariat is based at the Japan Society in London. JCIE (Japan Center for International Exchange) serves as the secretariat in Japan.