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 convened in Tokyo and Odawara, Kanagawa on February 2–4, the second in-person program since 2019. The delegation began their stay in Tokyo, where the UK delegation paid a courtesy call to Prime Minister Kishida and attended a reception hosted by Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa. 

More than 40 members from the United Kingdom and Japan participated in the dialogue. Over the course of seven sessions, politicians, journalists, businesspeople, and scholars discussed key topics including the latest domestic developments in each country, global conflicts including the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the US response to the current international turmoil, climate change and energy, ways to encourage cooperation on global health innovation, and the impact of AI.

A summary of discussions and recommendations is being prepared by the co-chairs to be presented to their respective governments and will be shared when available.

Accordion Content

February 1 

TOKYO PROGRAMME

Reception hosted by Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa 

Speech by Minister Kamikawa and other delegates 

February 2 

ODAWARA PROGRAMME

Opening remarks by Co-Chairmen 

Seiji Kihara, Co-Chairman, UK-Japan 21st Century Group
Lord Lansley, Co-Chairman, UK-Japan 21st Century Group

Session 1: Latest Developments in Japanese and UK Politics and the Economy

UK SPEAKERS: Mark Logan, Member of Parliament (Conservative) and Catherine West, Member of Parliament (Labour)
JAPANESE SPEAKER: Hiroyuki Akita, Commentator, Nikkei

Session 2: Global Security including Ukraine and Russia

UK SPEAKER: Paul Madden, Former British Ambassador to Japan 
JAPANESE SPEAKER: Koji Tsuruoka, Former Japanese Ambassador to UK

February 3

Session 3: Global Security U.S. Response to International Security

UK SPEAKER: Richard Lloyd Parry, Asia Editor, The Times                                                                        
JAPANESE SPEAKER: Fumiaki Kubo, President, National Defense of Academy 

Session 4: Climate Change and Energy

CLIMATE CHANGE
UK SPEAKER: Lord (Jack) McConnell, Member of the House of Lords
JAPANESE SPEAKER: Yukari Takamura, Professor, University of Tokyo

FINANCIAL ISSUE on GREEN ENERGY
UK SPEAKER: Lord (Jack) McConnell
JAPANESE SPEAKER: Yasunori Takeuchi, CEO, Corporate Action Japan

Session 5: Global Health: Enhancing Innovation through Collaborations           

UK SPEAKER: Philippe Fauchet, Founder, Mirasense
JAPANESE SPEAKER: Osamu Kunii, CEO, Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT)
SPECIAL SPEAKER: Keizo Takemi, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare; Member of the House of Councillors

Session 6: AI

UK SPEAKER: Lord (Andrew) Lansley, Member of the House of Lords
JAPANESE SPEAKER: Yutaka Matsuo, Professor, Research into Artifacts, Center of Engineering, University of Tokyo

February 4

Session 7: Chairmen’s Summary Dialogue

UK CHAIRMAN: Lord Lansley
JAPANESE CHAIRMAN: Seiji Kihara

Conclusions and Recommendations

UK CHAIRMAN: Lord Lansley
JAPANESE CHAIRMAN: Seiji Kihara

JAPANESE PARTICIPANTS

Mr Seiji Kihara

Japanese Co-Chairman, UK-Japan 21st Century Group; Member of the House of Representatives (LDP)

Mr Hiroyuki Akita

Commentator, Nikkei Shimbun

Mr Hirohide Hirai

Advisor to CEO, Hitachi, Ltd.

Prof Yoko Iwama

Professor, International Relations, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies

Mr Isao Kano

President, Japan Center for International Exchange; Japanese Executive Director, UK-Japan 21st Century Group

Dr Sadaharu Kotani

Executive Director, Government Relations Strategy Department, Eisai Co., Ltd.

Prof Fumiaki Kubo 

President, National Defense Academy of Japan

Dr Osamu Kunii 

CEO and Executive Director, Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT) 

Ms Karen Makishima

Member of the House of Representatives (LDP)

Professor Yutaka Matsuo

Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo

Mr Hidehiro Mitani

Member of the House of Representatives (LDP)

Mr Keiichiro Nakamura

Senior Managing Executive Officer, Co-Head of Global Business/Banking Unit, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group/ Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Mr Mitsunari OkamotoMember of the House of Representatives (Komei)
Mr Masahiro OyaExecutive Officer, Vice President, Global Strategic Planning & Marketing, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Mr Yasuhisa Shiozaki

Chairperson, Keiso Nippon Initiative; Former Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare; former Japanese Co-Chairman, UK-Japan 21st Century Group 

Mr Isamu Suda

Deputy Senior General Manager, Defense Systems Division, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Professor Akio Takahara

Professor, Graduate Schools for Law and Politics,
The University of Tokyo

Professor Yukari Takamura

Professor, Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo

Mr Keizo Takemi

Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare; Member of the House of Councillors; former Japanese Co-Chairman, UK-Japan 21st Century Group

Mr Yasunori Takeuchi

CEO/Representative Director, Corporate Action Japan

Mr Akihiro Tsuji

Minister, Embassy of Japan in the UK

Mr Koji Tsuruoka

President, The International Affairs Research Institute; former Japanese Ambassador to the UK

Mr Masahiro Yamauchi

Managing Director and Head of International Business Planning Dept., Daiwa Securities Group Inc. 

Ms Harumi Yoshida

Member of the House of Representatives (CDP)

UK PARTICIPANTS

Lord (Andrew) Lansley

UK Co-Chairman, UK-Japan 21st Century Group; House of Lords (Conservative Party)

Baroness (Elizabeth) Barker

House of Lords (Liberal Democratic Party)

Dr Lisa Cameron MPMember of Parliament (Conservative Party)
Mr Simon CheltonDirector of the Security Industry Council of Japan
Mr Philippe FauchetFounder, Mirasense Partners
Mr David FittonUK Executive Director, UK-Japan 21st Century Group
Ms Yuko KidoguchiVice President Corporate Affairs, AstraZeneca KK
Dr Sylvain LacombleVice President Commercial Operations EMEA, Terumo
Mr Richard Lloyd ParryAsia Editor, The Times
Mr Mark Logan MP Member of Parliament (Conservative Party)
H. E. Julia LongbottomBritish Ambassador to Japan
Lord (Jack) McConnellMember of the House of Lords (Labour Party)
Mr Paul MaddenBusiness Adviser, Professor and former Ambassador
Dr John Nilsson-WrightHead, Japan and Koreas Programme, Centre for Geopolitics, University of Cambridge; Fuji Bank Associate Professor in Japanese Politics and International Relations, Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Cambridge
Mr Rob PeerBAE Systems Country Director Japan; President BAE Systems Japan GK
Mr Naokazu SaitoDirector Government Policy and Government Affairs, AstraZeneca KK
Mr Edward WeeksPresident and CEO, HSBC Japan
Ms Catherine West MPMember of Parliament (Labour Party)

OBSERVERS

Mr Hiroyuki GotoManager, Europe, the Middle East and Africa Section, Regional Marketing Division, Global Strategic Planning & Marketing Group, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
Dr Yohei KiguchiFounder and CEO, ENECHANGE Group
Mr Tetsuya KodamaExecutive Director, Nihon Cyber Defence Co
Ms Sherrie de LaceyResearch Analyst, Synergos Digital, UK
Mr Bradley MurraySenior Policy Advisor, UK Ministry of Defence (on Sabbatical)
Mr Kimitake NakamuraDeputy Director-General/Deputy Assistant Minister (Ambassador), European Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Dr Kazu SenshuChief Clinical and Regulatory Officer, Terumo
Ms Sayuri TakimotoAssociate Director, Government Affairs, AstraZeneca KK
Ms Tomomi TsukakoshiDeputy Director, Western Europe Division, European Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ms Izumi YamamotoThe Americas Section, Regional Marketing Division, Global Strategic Planning & Marketing Group, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
Ms Sophie Warner-FogPolitical Counsellor, (Bilateral and Internal), British Embassy Tokyo
Ms Jessica WellsSecond Secretary Political (Bilateral and Internal), British Embassy Tokyo

SECRETARIAT

Ms Hifumi TajimaChief Program Officer, Japan Center for International Exchange
Mr Patrick Ishiyama Digital and Print Production Officer, Japan Center for International Exchange

 

JCIE co-organizes the UK-Japan 21st Century Group with the Japan Society of the UK in London.