The 42nd Annual Conference of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group was held in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture, west of Tokyo. More than 50 participants from the United Kingdom and Japan, including politicians, journalists, business leaders, and scholars, gathered to discuss key issues and potential areas for partnership.
Discussions took place against the backdrop of a rapidly changing global order, marked by intensifying great power competition and strains on existing international institutions. The group examined macroeconomic challenges and policy responses in both countries, as well as their roles in upholding stability and the rule of law amid geopolitical uncertainty. Participants also discussed challenges and opportunities for collaboration across a range of areas, including emerging strategic domains such as space and cybersecurity; advanced science and technology, including AI and quantum computing; global health; and coordination on economic security, energy, and broader multilateral frameworks.
A summary of discussions and recommendations was subsequently prepared by the co-chairs for presentation to their respective governments (see below). In Japan, the report was presented to Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kei Sato by Co-chair Seiji Kihara (Member of the House of Representatives) on June 10, 2026.
The meeting opened in Tokyo, where participants attended a luncheon hosted by the British Ambassador to Japan, Julia Longbottom, and a dinner reception hosted by Japan’s Foreign Minister, represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Iwao Horii. The UK delegation also paid a courtesy call on Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kei Sato.
The UK–Japan 21st Century Group was established in 1985 following a joint recommendation by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone. Originally known as the UK–Japan 2000 Group, it brings together leaders from the public and private sectors, as well as civil society, to promote dialogue and cooperation between the two countries.
AGENDA
March 12
TOKYO PROGRAMME
Lunch hosted by British Ambassador Julia Longbottom
Call on Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (UK participants only)
March 13
FUJIYOSHIDA PROGRAMME
Opening remarks by Co-Chairmen
Seiji Kihara, Co-Chairman, UK-Japan 21st Century Group
Lord McConnell, Co-Chairman, UK-Japan 21st Century Group
Session 1: Political and Economic Developments in Japan and the UK: Balancing Economic Growth and Fiscal Discipline
UK SPEAKER: Monica Harding MP, Member of Parliament, Liberal Democrat Party
JAPANESE SPEAKER: Takehiko Nakao, Chairman, Center for International Economy & Strategy Ltd.
COMMENTATOR: Rie Nishihara, Chief Japan Equity Strategist, J.P. Morgan
Session 2: Roles of the UK and Japan in an Era of Great Power Politics
UK SPEAKER: Professor Alessio Patalano, Professor of War and Strategy in East Asia and Co-Director of the Centre for Grand Strategy, Kings College London
JAPANESE SPEAKER: Yuichi Hosoya, Professor of International Politics, Faculty of Law, Keio University
COMMENTATOR: Hiroyuki Akita, Commentator, Nikkei Shimbun
Dinner
March 14
Session 3: Space and Cyber Security: Advancing Partnership in Emerging Strategic Domains of Foreign Affairs and Security
UK SPEAKER: Lord (Andrew) Lansley, House of Lords, and Richmond Pharmacology
JAPANESE SPEAKER: Kenichi Sakurazawa, Managing Director, Japan Cybercrime Control Center
Session 4: UK–Japan Collaboration in Advanced Science, Technology, Education, and Research
UK SPEAKER: Professor Mary Ryan, Vice Provost (Research and Enterprise), Imperial College, University of London
JAPANESE SPEAKER: Taro Shimada, Chair of the Board, Quantum STrategic industry Alliance for Revolution (Q-STAR)
Session 5: UK-Japan Leadership in Addressing Global Health and Other Global Challenges as National Security Issues
UK SPEAKER: Dr Sylvain Lacomble, Vice President Commercial Operations EMEA, Terumo Blood and Cell Technology
JAPANESE SPEAKER: Kazuhiko Nakamura, Director-General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
Session 6: Strengthening Multilateral Frameworks in Foreign and Security Policy: Sea Lane Security and the CPTPP
UK SPEAKER: Paul Madden, Business Adviser and former British Ambassador to Japan
JAPANESE SPEAKER: Osamu Nishiwaki, Director-General for Trade and Economic Security, Trade and Economic Security Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan; former Deputy Commissioner, ATLA, Ministry of Defense of Japan
Dinner
March 15
Session 7: Chairmen’s Summary Dialogue
Session 8: Conclusions and Recommendations
PARTICIPANTS
|
JAPANESE PARTICIPANTS |
|
| Mr Seiji Kihara | Japanese Co-Chairman, UK-Japan 21st Century Group; Member of the House of Representatives (Liberal Democratic Party) |
| Mr Keishi Abe | Member of the House of Representatives (Japan Innovation Party) |
| Mr Masatomi Akana | Senior Group Officer, Eisai Co., Ltd |
| Mr Hiroyuki Akita | Commentator, Nikkei Shimbun |
| Mr Keiichiro Asao | Member of the House of Councillors (Liberal Democratic Party) |
| Ms Hikaru Fujita | Member of the House of Representatives (Liberal Democratic Party) |
| Ms Yaeko Higaki | Vice President, Hitachi Europe, Ltd |
| Prof Yuichi Hosoya | Professor, Faculty of Law, Keio University |
| Prof Maiko Ichihara | Professor, Graduate School of Law, Hitotsubashi University |
| Ms Kaori Iida | Deputy Chief Commentator, NHK |
| Mr Isao Kano | President, Japan Center for International Exchange; Japanese Executive Director, UK-Japan 21st Century Group |
| Ms Hiroe Makiyama | Member of the House of Councillors (Constitutional Democratic Party) |
| Ms Rui Matsukawa | Member of the House of Councillors (Liberal Democratic Party) |
| Ms Jun Mukoyama | Member of the House of Representatives (Liberal Democratic Party) |
| Mr Kazuhiko Nakamura | Director-General of International Legal Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan |
| Mr Keiichiro Nakamura | Senior Managing Executive Officer, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group; Senior Managing Executive Officer, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation |
| Mr Takehiko Nakao | Chairman, Center for International Economy and Strategy |
| Ms Rie Nishihara | Chief Japan Equity Strategist, J.P. Morgan |
| Mr Osamu Nishiwaki | Director-General for Trade and Economic Security, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan; former Deputy Commissioner, ATLA, Ministry of Defense of Japan |
| Mr Mitsunari Okamoto | Member of the House of Representatives (Centrist Reform Alliance), Chairperson of the CRA Policy Research Council |
| Mr Masataka Okano | Senior Advisor to the President, CEO, Mitsubishi Corporation |
| Mr Masahiro Oya | Executive Officer (Associate), Vice President, Global Strategic Planning & Marketing, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation |
| Mr Alex Saito | Member of the House of Representatives (Japan Innovation Party) |
| Mr Kenichi Sakurazawa | Managing Director, Japan Cybercrime Control Center |
| Mr Taketsugu Sato | Director of the Editorial Board, The Asahi Shimbun |
| Mr Taro Shimada | Chair of the Board, Quantum Strategic Industry Alliance for Revolution (Q-STAR) |
| Mr Masayuki Suematsu | Executive Vice President, CSO, Head of Business Strategy Office, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries |
| Amb Hiroshi Suzuki | Japanese Ambassador to the UK |
| Mr Kaname Tajima | Member of the House of Representatives (Centrist Reform Alliance) |
| Mr Koji Tsuruoka | President, The International Affairs Research Institute; former Japanese Ambassador to the UK |
| Ms Miki Yamada | Member of the House of Representatives (Liberal Democratic Party) |
|
UK PARTICIPANTS |
|
| Lord (Jack) McConnell | UK Co-Chairman, UK-Japan 21st Century Group; House of Lords (Labour Party) |
| Mr Malcolm Evans | Director, Government Affairs Global, Oxford Nanopore Technologies |
| Mr Philippe Fauchet | Founder, Mirasense Partners |
| Mr David Fitton | UK Executive Director, UK-Japan 21st Century Group |
| Mr Masahiro Fujino | Director, Policy & Advocacy, AstraZeneca KK, Japan |
| Ms Monica Harding MP | Member of Parliament (Liberal Democrat Party) |
| Sir Mark Hendrick MP | Member of Parliament (Labour Party) and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Japan |
| Mr Takafumi Horii | President and Representative Director, AstraZeneca KK, Japan |
| Mr Naoya Iwata | Chief of Staff, Terumo Corporation |
| Mr Takeo Kaneko | CEO and Head of Banking, HSBC Group Japan |
| Dr Sylvain Lacomble | Vice President Commercial Operations EMEA, Terumo |
| Lord (Andrew) Lansley | House of Lords (Conservative Party) and Richmond Pharmacology |
| H.E. Julia Longbottom | British Ambassador to Japan |
| Mr Paul Madden | Business Adviser and former British Ambassador to Japan |
| Prof John Nilsson-Wright | Fuji Bank Professor of Japanese Politics and the International Relations of East Asia, Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Cambridge |
| Prof Alessio Patalano | Professor of War and Strategy in East Asia and Co-Director of the Centre for Grand Strategy, Kings College London |
| Ms Rebecca Paul MP | Member of Parliament (Conservative Party) |
| Mr Rob Peer | President, BAE Systems Japan GK |
| Prof Mary Ryan | Vice Provost (Research and Enterprise) Imperial College, University of London |
| Mr Matt Slabbert | Vice President and Head of Global Public Affairs, Astellas Pharma Europe |
| Mr David Taylor MP | Member of Parliament (Labour Party) |
| Lord (Hugh) Trenchard | Consultant to Oxford Nanopore Technologies and Co-Chair of the British-Japanese Parliamentary Group, House of Lords (Conservative Party) |
| Lord (Rumi) Verjee | House of Lords (Liberal Democrat Party) |
| Ms Gretchen Weightman |
Vice President and General Manager Asia Pacific, Oxford Nanopore Technologies |
