ARCHIVED What the UK and Japan Mean to Each Other with Jeremy Hunt MP and Tomohiko Taniguchi
Date
Wednesday 8 July 2020
Time
1.30pm to 2.30pm (BST)
Booking Details
Free – Donations Welcome
Registration essential
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On Wednesday 8 July we are delighted to welcome Jeremy Hunt and Tomohiko Taniguchi, both well-known to members of the Japan Society, to discuss the relationship between our two countries with Japan Society Chairman, Bill Emmott.
That the friendship between Japan and the UK runs deep – and in early May we marked the 400th anniversary of the death of William Adams, the first Englishman in Japan - and that we share many common interests and ambitions, are sentiments frequently aired at meetings of Japan Society members.
In early June, our governments began negotiations on a UK-Japan Free Trade Agreement, while on another issue of the moment, Japanese and British companies are working closely together towards the development and production of Coronavirus vaccines, and our links stretch through defence and security, education and research and artistic collaboration. But what might this all lead to? What value do our respective governments really put on each other?
The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP is Chair of the Health and Social Care Select Committee, having previously served as Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (July 2018 – July 2019) and Secretary of State for Health (2012 – 2018). In early career, he spent two years in Japan where he taught English and learnt Japanese. He is currently Chair of the British Japanese Parliamentary Group..
Tomohiko Taniguchi is special advisor to the Japanese Cabinet since April 2014 and professor at Keiō University’s Graduate School of System Design and Management. He was a journalist for Nikkei Business for twenty years (1985 – 2005), including a spell as London Bureau Chief (1997 - 1999), until taking an appointment as deputy press secretary and deputy director general for public diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2005 – 2008). His works include 日本人のための現代史講義』(Modern History Lectures for the Japanese) (Soshisha, 2019) and 安倍晋三の真実 (Abe Shinzō: The Truth) (Goku Books, 2018).