UK-JAPAN 21st CENTURY GROUP
1985–Present
The UK-Japan 21st Century Group was launched in 1985 at the joint recommendation of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone. Originally known as the UK-Japan 2000 Group, it is a coalition of private sector, public sector, and civil society leaders from both countries that aims to promote dialogue and cooperation between the two countries.
The group’s primary goal is to serve as a catalyst for increasing the level of mutual understanding and awareness of the political, economic, and social environments in each country. Members of the group, representing industry, finance, academia, the media, and government, meet annually in conferences held alternately in the UK and Japan. The conferences address a wide range of issues facing the two countries, including educational and cultural exchange, global security systems, investment and development, and policies for coping with aging societies. Following each of the group’s meetings, a summary report and recommendations are submitted to the prime ministers of both countries.
PROGRAM NEWS
UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 40th Conference
February 2–4, 2024 | Tokyo and Odawara, Kanagawa
The 40th annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group met in Tokyo and Odawara to discuss critical issues facing bilateral relations and global geopolitics, including security, trade, climate cha…
UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 39th Conference
January 12-15, 2023 | London and Norwich
The 39th annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group met in London from January 13 to January 15, a welcome change from the online program necessitated last year by the COVID-19 pandemic.
UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 38th Conference
March 8 & 11, 2022 | Online
The 38th annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group was held online due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic with the participation of around 20 members from each country, who held discussions on t…
UK-Japan 21st Century Group Webinar | The Future Direction of Japan Under Prime Minister Suga
February 25, 2021 | Online
The UK-Japan 21st Century Group held its first online webinar to discuss Japan’s future under Prime Minister Suga.
UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 37th Conference
September 11–12, 2020 | Online
The 37th annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic with the participation of 20 members from each country, who held discussions on the latest polit…
UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 36th Conference
September 6–8, 2019 | London and Cantebury
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 pla…
UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 35th Conference
August 31–September 2, 2018 | Tokyo and Kamakura
The 35th annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group convened in Japan on August 31–September 2, 2018. The group held in-depth discussions on a broad range of issues impacting the two countries…
UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 34th Conference
September 7–10, 2017 | London, Cambridge, United Kingdom
The 34th annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group convened in the UK on September 7–10, 2017, in London and Cambridge. The group held in-depth discussions on a broad range of issues relating…
UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 33rd Conference
October 6–9, 2016 | Tokyo
The 33rd annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group convened in Japan on October 6–9. The group held discussions on a broad range of issues that affect the two countries and their relationship.
UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 32nd Conference
September 3–6, 2015 | London and Ditchley Park, Oxfordshire, UK
The 32nd annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group convened in London and Ditchley Park, Oxfordshire, on September 3–6, 2015. A total of 34 senior Japanese and British leaders engaged in a ser…
UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 31st Conference
May 14–18, 2014 | Hakone, Japan
The 31st annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group convened 40 Japanese and British leaders on May 14–18, 2014 to discuss issues impacting each country and their relationship.
UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 30th Conference
May 1–6, 2013 | London, West Sussex, United Kingdom
The 30th annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group convened in London and West Sussex on May 1–6, 2013. Over forty senior Japanese and British leaders engaged in a series of roundtable discuss…
29th UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 29th Conference
May 23–26, 2012 | Tokyo
The 29th annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group convened in Tokyo on May 23–26, 2012. Fifty senior Japanese and British leaders engaged in a series of roundtable discussions on issues such…
UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 28th Conference
May 19–22, 2011 | London
The 28th annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group was convened in London on May 19–22, 2011. Thirty-two senior Japanese and British figures discussed areas for potential greater collaboration…
UK-Japan 21st Century Group | 27th Conference
October 21–24, 2010 | Tokyo, Karuizawa, Japan
The 27th annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group took place on October 21–24, 2010. Bringing 34 leaders from the two countries together, the forum included meetings on a range of domestic an…