The 37th annual meeting of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group was scheduled to be held in Japan this year, but due to the travel restrictions in both countries as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was instead held online with the participation of 20 members from each country.
The group—comprised of politicians, journalists, businesspeople, and scholars—held in-depth discussions on the latest political and economic developments in each country, the post-pandemic international order, prospects for trade and investment following the pandemic, and building capacity and confidence in global governance.
A summary of discussions and recommendations was prepared by the co-chairs to be presented to their respective governments and is available to read below.
Friday 11 September
Opening Remarks by Yasuhisa Shiozaki and Lord Lansley
Session 1: Latest Developments in Japanese Politics and the Economy
MODERATOR: Yasuhisa Shiozaki
JAPANESE SPEAKER: Hiroyuki Akita, Commentator, Nikkei Inc.
Session 2: Latest Developments in UK Politics and the Economy
MODERATOR: Lord Lansley
UK SPEAKER: Philip Stephens, Director, Financial Times
Editorial Board
Session 3: The World Order After the Pandemic
MODERATOR: Yasuhisa Shiozaki
JAPANESE SPEAKER: Koji Tsuruoka, former Japanese Ambassador to UK
UK SPEAKER: Tom Tugenhadt MP, Chair of the House of
Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee
Saturday 12 September
Session 4: The Prospects for Trade and Investment Following the Pandemic
MODERATOR: Lord Lansley
UK SPEAKER: Mr Philip Rycroft, Former Permanent Secretary, Department for Exiting the EU
JAPANESE SPEAKER: Isao Kano, Senior Advisor, Internal Audit Dept., Corporate Staff Section, Mitsubishi Corporation
Session 5: Building Capacity and Confidence in Global Governance
MODERATOR: Yasuhisa Shiozaki
JAPANESE SPEAKER: Keizo Takemi, Member of the House of Councilors
UK SPEAKER: Lord (Jack) McConnell, Member of the House of
Lords
Closing Remarks by Yasuhisa Shiozaki and Lord Lansley
JAPANESE PARTICIPANTS | |
Mr Yasuhisa Shiozaki | Japanese Co-Chairman, UK-Japan 21st Century Group; former Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare; Member of the House of Representatives (LDP) |
Mr Masatomi Akana | Corporate Officer, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Global Value & Access, Eisai Co., Ltd. |
Mr Hiroyuki Akita | Commentator, Nikkei Shimbun |
Mr Akinari Horii | Special Advisor and Member of the Board of Directors, The Canon Institute for Global Studies, Tokyo |
Ms Kaori Iida | Senior Editor, Morning News Program, NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) |
Mr Hitoshi Ito | Vice President and Executive Officer, Government & External Relations Group, Hitachi, Ltd. |
Mr Isao Kano | Senior Advisor, Internal Audit Dept., Corporate Staff Section, Mitsubishi Corporation |
Ms Karen Makishima | Member of the House of Representatives (LDP) |
Mr Hidehiro Mitani | Member of the House of Representatives (LDP) |
H.E. Nasumasa Yagamine | Japanese Ambassador to UK |
Mr Keiichiro Nakamura | Managing Executive Officer and Head of Europe, Middle East and Africa Division; Chief Executive Officer, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Europe Limited. |
Mr Mitsunari Okamoto | Member of the House of Representatives (New Komeito) |
Mr Akio Okawara | President, Japan Center for International Exchange; Japanese Executive Director, UK-Japan 21st Century Group |
Mr Masahiko Oshima | Deputy President and Head of Global Banking, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation |
Prof Ryo Sahashi | Associate Professor, Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, University of Tokyo |
Ms Tokiko Shimizu | Assistant Governor, Bank of Japan |
Mr Kaname Tajima | Member of the House of Representatives (Independent/a member of parliamentary group of the CDR) |
Ms Maiko Tajima | Member of the House of Councillors (CDR) |
Mr Keizo Takemi | Member of the House of Councillors (LDP) |
Mr Koji Tsuruoka | Former Japanese Ambassador to UK |
UK PARTICIPANTS | |
Lord (Andrew) Lansley | UK Co-Chairman, UK-Japan 21st Century Group |
Baroness (Elizabeth) Barker | House of Lords (Liberal Democratic Party) |
Dr Lisa Cameron MP | Member of Parliament (Scottish National Party) |
Lord (Jack) Cunningham | House of Lords (Labour Party) |
Mr Alan Donnelly | Executive Chairman, Sovereign Strategy |
Mr Philippe Fauchet | Founder, Mirasense Partners |
Mr David Fitton | UK Executive Director, UK-Japan 21st Century Group |
Lord (Jack) McConnell | House of Lords (Labour Party) |
H.E. Paul Madden | British Ambassador to Japan |
Mr Alan Mak MP | Member of Parliament (Conservative Party) |
Dr John Nilsson-Wright | Senior Lecturer in Modern Japanese Politics and International Relations, Cambridge University; Head of the Asia Programme at Chatham House |
Ms Sarah Owen MP | Member of Parliament (Labour Party) |
Mr David Richardson | Non Executive Director, Crown Agents |
Mr Philip Rycroft | Former Permanent Secretary, Department for Exiting the EU |
Mr Philip Stephens | Director, Financial Times Editorial Board |
Mr Nigel Talboys | Global Director, Government Affairs and Public Policy, Terumo BCT Europe |
Mr Tom Tugenhadt MP | Chair of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee (Conservative Party) |
Sir David Warren | Associate Fellow, Chatham House |
Sir David Wright | Chairman, Japan Market Advisory Group, TheCityUK |
