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 for sessions in Tokyo and in Karuizawa, Japan, the forum included meetings on a range of domestic and global concerns where deeper UK-Japan relations can play a critical role. The first session took place in Tokyo, where participants learned from Japanese experts about the latest domestic developments as well as wider East Asian relations. The rise of China, the relative decline in US power in the region, recent shifts in Japan’s political landscape, and relations with North Korea were four trends identified as important challenges for the region.
Before leaving Tokyo, the UK delegation met with Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who welcomed the delegation and expressed his full support for the work of the 21st Century Group. The forum resumed in Karuizawa, where the participants heard about the latest trends in UK and European politics, such as a stabilized yet still uncertain eurozone as well as the recent emergence of a coalition government in the UK.
They also discussed the UK-Japan relationship within the context of wider international challenges. They spoke about the continuing uncertainty of the global economic environment, with participants from both countries emphasizing the importance of taking action against global imbalances, and also about transnational security threats, such as nuclear proliferation, international terrorism, and the war in Afghanistan. The participants also discussed China’s future international role. The sessions concluded with a broad look at the prospects for deepening UK-Japan relations in a number of areas, including the need for bilateral cooperation in addressing climate change and potential avenues for increased trade and investment and further economic integration between the two countries.
After the forum, a joint statement on the group’s findings and recommendations were released by the Japanese and UK chairmen.
October 21
Session I: Latest Developments in Japan and East Asia
HITOSHI TANAKA, Senior Fellow, Japan Center for International Exchange; Chairman of the Institute for International Strategy (IIS), Japan Research Institute, Ltd.
Dinner hosted by SEIJI MAEHARA, Minister for Foreign Affairs
October 22
UK delegation meeting with Prime Minister NAOTO KAN
Lunch hosted by British Ambassador DAVID WARREN
October 23
Session II: Latest Developments in UK and Europe
PHILIP STEPHENS, Associate Editor, Financial Times
Session III: Fiscal and Financial Challenges and the Global Economy
NAOKI TANAKA, President, Center for International Public Policy Studies
MARK TAYLOR, Dean, Warwick Business School
Session IV: Current Challenges of Security and Other Global Issues
SIR JOHN BOYD, Chairman of Asia House
MASASHI NISHIHARA, President, Research Institute for Peace and Security (RIPS)
October 24
Session V: Prospects for UK-Japan Bilateral Relations and Progress in Developing Bilateral Collaboration
SHINJI FUKUKAWA, Chairman, TEPIA, The Machine Industry Memorial Foundation
LORD WOOLMER, House of Lords
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JAPANESE PARTICIPANTS |
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CO-CHAIR |
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YASUHISA SHIOZAKI |
Former Chief Cabinet Secretary; Member, House of Representatives (LDP) |
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PARTICIPANTS |
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SHIN EBIHARA |
Japanese Ambassador to the UK |
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SHINJI FUKUKAWA |
Chairman, TEPIA, The Machine Industry Memorial Foundation |
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TETSURO FUKUYAMA |
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary; Member, House of Councillors (DPJ) |
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KENJI KOSAKA |
Former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; Member, House of Councillors (LDP) |
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KENICHI MIYATA |
Executive Secretary of the Institute of Journalism, The Asahi Shimbun |
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OSAMU NAGATA |
Managing Executive Officer, Toyota Motor Corporation |
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TOMOJI NAKATANI |
Member, House of Councillors (DPJ) |
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MASASHI NISHIHARA |
President, Research Institute for Peace and Security (RIPS) |
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HAJIME SASAKI |
Executive Director, NEC Corporation |
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YOSHIYASU SATO |
Advisor, Shiseido Co. Ltd; Former Ambassador to China |
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MASAHIKO SHIBAYAMA |
Member, House of Representatives (LDP) |
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YOSHITAKA SHINDO |
Member, House of Representatives (LDP) |
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YASUO TANABE |
Corporate Officer, International Strategy Division, Hitachi, Ltd. |
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HITOSHI TANAKA |
Senior Fellow, Japan Center for International Exchange; Chairman of the Institute for International Strategy (IIS), Japan Research Institute, Ltd.; Former Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs |
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NAOKI TANAKA |
President, Center for International Public Policy Studies |
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TAIZO YAKUSHIJI |
Research Counselor, Institute for International Policy Studies; Professor of Emeritus of Keio University, Visiting Professor of National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) |
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IKUO YAMAHANA |
Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs; Member, House of Representatives (DPJ) |
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TADASHI YAMAMOTO |
President, Japan Center for International Exchange; Japanese Executive Director, UK-Japan 21st Century Group |
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UK PARTICIPANTS |
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CO-CHAIR |
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RT HON LORD CUNNINGHAM |
House of Lords (Labour Party) |
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PARTICIPANTS |
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SIR JOHN BOYD |
Chairman, Asia House |
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LORELY BURT |
Member of Parliament (Liberal Democrat Party) |
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SIMON CHELTON |
Vice President, Corporate Relations, North East Asia, BAE Systems |
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PROF GLENN HOOK |
Director, Graduate School of East Asian Studies, Sheffield University |
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CHARLES HUMFREY |
UK Executive Director, UK-Japan 21st Century Group |
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MARGOT JAMES |
Member of Parliament (Conservative party) |
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YASMIN QURESHI |
Member of Parliament (Labour Party) |
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PHILIP STEPHENS |
Associate Editor, Financial Times |
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PROF MARK TAYLOR |
Dean, Warwick Business School |
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STEVE TAYLOR |
Executive Director, Crown Agents |
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LORD TEVERSON |
House of Lords (Liberal Democratic Party) |
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RICHARD THORNLEY |
President, Rolls-Royce plc in Japan |
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DAVID WARREN |
UK Ambassador to Japan |
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LORD WOOLMER |
House of Lords (Labour Party) |
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OBSERVERS |
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EMILY BRADNEY |
Second Secretary, Political Section, British Embassy |
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KAZUHIRO KATO |
Chief Manager, International Operation Planning Division, NEC Corporation |
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SATOMI OKAGAKI |
Deputy Director, Western Europe Division, European Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
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JUN YANAGI |
Director, Western Europe Division, European Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
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SECRETARIAT |
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PATRICK ISHIYAMA |
Web and Book Design, Japan Center for International Exchange |
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HIFUMI TAJIMA |
Senior Program Officer, Japan Center for International Exchange |
