The Japan Society Year in Review 2018
Heidi Potter
2018 was a period of change, innovation and consolidation for theJapanese community in London. The Japan Society marked the 150th
anniversary of the Meiji restoration, collaborated on major work tohighlight the 100 plus years of Japanese history behind Hammersmith
Park, and joined celebrations for the opening of the newly opened Japan
House. At the end of 2018, Sir David Warren stood down at the end of
six years as Chairman; we marked the transition at the annual dinner andChristmas party, where members had the chance to thank David for his
leadership of the Society and to welcome Bill Emmott to his new role.
The Society was saddened by death in August of former chairman Sir
Hugh Cortazzi, whose obituary is published elsewhere in this volume
and on the website, together with tributes from many of those who had
known and worked with him.
The business network
Inevitably perhaps, the business events programme in 2018 again
included a large proportion of events with a focus on the implicationsof the UK leaving the European Union, though also included sessions
on other topical issues. The Chairman held a series of lunches hosted
by corporate members, in which key figures were invited to meetsenior members of the Society. These events provided opportunities
for decision makers to share ideas and information, and ensured thatthose involved in business and government were well informed on
topical issues relating to the Japan-UK relationship. The three guests ofhonour in 2018 provided insights and analysis on issues around Brexit:
Sir Martin Donnelly, former Permanent Secretary for the Department forInternational Trade; The Rt Hon Keir Starmer MP, Shadow Secretary ofState for Exiting the EU, and Bobby McDonagh, Former Irish Ambassador
to the UK, Italy and the EU.
Other business lectures and seminars were also generously hosted
by corporate members of the Society, or organized in partnership withothers. During the year, these included a seminar by Alastair Morgan,
British Ambassador to Pyongyang, who gave a briefing on the situation in
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The Japan Society Year in Review 2018

North Korea and the implications for security in the region; by Watanabe
Hiroshi, President of the Institute for International Monetary Affairs, andby Hirose Naomi, Executive Vice Chairman, Fukushima Affairs, TEPCO,
who gave an update on the management of the Fukushima accident.
At the end of his first year as British Ambassador to Japan, Paul Madden
spoke about the work of the Embassy and developments in the UK-Japan
relationship. (The transcript of this lecture was printed in Proceedings
154.)
The Society organised two joint lunches in conjunction with theJapanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the UK, at which
guest speakers were the Japanese Ambassador, and Graham Stuart MP,
Minister for Investment.
The general events programme
As always, the Society’s general programme in 2018 included events
designed to reflect the diverse interests and enthusiasms of its members.
The conversation group under the leadership of its active subcommittee continues to play an important role in the Society, providing
a valuable opportunity for participants to maintain and develop theirlanguage skills. It allows Japanese and non-Japanese, members andnon-members, to talk in a friendly and informal setting. In addition to theregular monthly meetings, the conversation group organizes occasional
special events, such as the annual hanami picnic, as well as participating
jointly in other Society events. Another long-running monthly fixture is
the book club, which meets on the second Monday of the month todiscuss a wide range of books including literary classics, anthologies
and contemporary fiction. In April, we marked the publication of theSociety’s most recent publication, Heaven’s Wind with a discussion
including translator and editor, Angus Turvill. This followed the official
launch event, where we were delighted to welcome Professor Jay Rubinfor an illuminating discussion with Angus Turvill on the challenges oftranslating contemporary and classical authors (fig.1).
Other events included gallery talks and museum visits, cultural
workshops, food and drink tastings, and social events. We were delighted
to partner with the Japan Foundation on an extremely popular eventwith Kinashi Noritake, while members enjoyed a more contemplative
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9Fig. 1 Book Launch of Heaven’s Wind (March 2018)
With editor and translator Angus Turvill (right) and Professor Jay Rubin (left)

atmosphere as they visited APT Gallery for a private view of Travels in
a Paper Coat, a collaborative exhibition between artists Miura Isao andNikolai Azariah with poet Chris Beckett. In April, Machida Toru, headconcierge at The Savoy, described his own journey from arrival in the UK
to his current role anticipating the needs of guests at one of London’s
top hotels.
In a lecture-demonstration in February, award-winning pastry-chef,
Aoyama Suzue, spoke about her training and experience working in
top UK establishments, while treating attendees to a mouth-watering
selection of savoury and sweet snacks. Tastebuds were stimulated again
in May, with a special supper club event with Silla Bjerrum to celebrate thelaunch of her book Robata. Food provided the backdrop to a discussionof the art of film making with screenwriter Mukai Kosuke, whose film
Gukoroku – Traces of Sin opened the Japan Foundation’s touring film
programme 2018.
We would like to congratulate Merryn Wilshier, the first female
winner of the Japan Society Golf Tournament in June, and the Japan10

The Japan Society Year in Review 2018

Society team, captained by Ambassador Tsuruoka, who retained theCollar Cup in the annual match against the JCCI in October. We are
grateful to BDO LLP for its continued support of these two events.
The Japan Society collaborated with the Japanese Embassy
and the Japanese business community in London, in managing the
installation of a new gate and avenue of stone lanterns at the Japanesegarden in Hammersmith Park. These formally recognise the history ofthis garden, originally constructed as part of the 1910 Japan British
Exhibition. A ceremony was held to celebrate these additions and toshare the history of this garden, attended by Ambassador Tsuruoka, theMayor and Councillors from Hammersmith & Fulham Borough Council,
representatives of the Japanese community in London, and sponsoring
companies. Despite last minute postponement due to bad weather,many members of the local community and the Japanese community in
London returned to the Park the following week for a Japanese Garden
Party, enjoying warm sunshine, music, Japanese food and culturalactivities (fig. 2).

Fig. 2 Japanese Garden Party at Hammersmith Park (August 2018)

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The 10th annual Japan Matsuri was held in Trafalgar Square on 30
September. The Japan Society has a formal role as Corporate Directorof the Japan Matsuri company, with Heidi Potter its nominated board
representative. On the 150th anniversary of the Meiji Restoraration, thetheme this year was Community, celebrating the long links between
London and Japan, with many of those who had studied in London
having played key roles in Japan’s Meiji Government. Rooted in the
UK’s Japan-related community, Japan Matsuri always showcases
performances by local schools and community groups, ranging fromyosakoi dance, Okinawan eisa, and street dance. The event would not
be complete without Japanese festival food, stalls introducing a rangeof products and services, and activities for all the family.
London Lectures
The lectures programme as usual covered a wide range of subject matter.
In January, a one-day conference organized with the Victorian Societymarked Meiji at 150 by examining the links between Meiji Japan andVictorian Britain, with panels on diplomacy, exhibitions, the visual arts,and home and garden. Martin Dusinberre set the scene from a historicaland global perspective at the beginning of the day, while in closing,novelist Natasha Pulley brought Meiji to London with a discussion of theinspirations behind The Watchmaker of Filigree Street. This was followed
in September by a seminar, the Society’s first event held at the newly
opened Japan House, in which a panel of speakers including novelist
Lesley Downer, historian Ian Ruxton, and diplomat David Warren, eachbrought their own perspectives to an assessment of Meiji from a British
angle (fig. 3).
The monthly lecture series formed the core of this aspect of ourpublic programming and the Society is grateful to all the speakers
who generously share their research. Subjects in 2018 included: theart of Japanese basketry; the North Korean community in Japan; therole of the Kōmeitō in Japanese political life; the story of Collingwood‘Cherry’ Ingram and cherry blossom in Japan; the translation of sciencein Meiji Japan and the influence of its translators; Oswald White and
the Japan Consular Service; British influence on Japanese archaeology;
photographic magazines in 1930s Japan; presentation of history in
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The Japan Society Year in Review 2018

Fig. 3 The Meiji Restoration from a British Perspective (September 2018)
With Lesley Downer, Ian Ruxton and Sir David Warren (image) at Japan House London

Japanese and Chinese school textbooks; the films of Imamura Shōhei
in the context of the Japanese studio system; and Tango in 20th century
Japan. The 9th annual lecture in memory of Dr Carmen Blacker took placein London and Norwich, organized jointly with the Sainsbury Institutefor the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures, with Professor Peter Nosco
speaking on Individuality in Modern Japan.
Coinciding with the exhibition Positive Energies at the OXO Tower
in May, we were delighted to welcome an expert panel to explore issues
relating to disability and social inclusion in Japan and the UK. Speakers
included parents, teachers and photographers, who looked at the roleof schools, technological innovation and art in breaking down barriers.
Japan Society Small Grants
In 2018 £20,000 was given in grants to support 25 small-scale projects andevents related to Japan. These grants provide opportunities for people
throughout the UK to participate in education and exchange relating toJapan and thus contribute to raising awareness and understanding of theJapan Society Proceedings

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country and its culture in places where the Japan Society has no regularcontact. Priority is given to applications for grassroots projects and for
activities involving schools and other educational establishments.
Twelve grants were awarded for projects taking place in schools
or for activity involving young people. This included Taiko drumming
workshops for children at a primary school in Brighton, complementing
the activities of the school’s Japan Club; and the third annual ‘Fuji
Festival’ in Edinburgh enabling Scottish school children to participate
in karate, sushi making, origami workshops, music and other Japan
related activities. Whitley Academy presented its students with a uniqueinsight into life in Tokyo through a performance by Tokyo-based theatrecompany, Tarinainanika specialising in corporeal mime. The performance
was followed by workshops, which gave the students the opportunity
to try out corporeal mime for themselves, as well as a Q&A session andinterviews with the group.
During one project in rural Northern Ireland, local traditional Irish
musicians collaborated with experienced shinobue and taiko drum
facilitators to learn a traditional Japanese piece of music, through which
they were able to discover both the similarities and differences between
their cultural traditions. The piece was in turn taught to local children
and young people who went on to perform on the showcase stage atthe 2018 Foyle O-bon Festival.
Scored in Silence, a digital artwork and performance piece by deaf
concept artist, Minamimura Chisato, gave over 50 deaf and hearing
young people the opportunity to learn of the experience of deaf
hibakusha (survivors of the atomic bomb). A project by Clod Ensemble
shared learning about Noh with artists and the general public throughevents, workshops and online resources; and Flight Paths, a collaborative
production telling the stories of three visually impaired artists and theirmigration to the UK, used Japan Society small grant funding to create an
online digital resource to provide background and context for the show
as it toured the UK in early 2019. (fig. 4)
Small grants were also given in support of a series of workshops
including tenugui screen printing, wood block printing and haiku run
by the West Yorkshire Print Workshop in conjunction with its Japanesesummer exhibition; a Japanese translation workshop at the School of
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The Japan Society Year in Review 2018

Fig. 4 Flight Paths (Spring 2019)© Christopher Andreou

Modern Languages in Cardiff; the 2018 Japanese Avant-Garde andExperimental Film Festival, and Japan Now 2018, a festival exploring
contemporary Japanese literature, film and culture.
Schools Education
The schools education programme has been developed out of a belief
in the value to young people in the UK of growing up with an awarenessand understanding of Japan and its culture. In addition to historical andbusiness reasons for learning about a key international partner, there are
more general benefits of broadening horizons and raising aspirations.
Through its activities for schools, the Society supports teachers who
may have limited experience of Japan themselves in providing theseopportunities for their students.
Throughout the year, the Society’s education team provides advice
and resources to schools engaged in teaching and learning activities
relating to Japan.
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A workshop in Cardiff in May focused on opportunities for crosscurricular work on Japan through haiku, sport and manga. In October, aJapan Conference for Schools, organized with the Japan Foundation andhosted by the British Council, gave teachers the opportunity to meetcounterparts to share information and participate in workshops anddiscussion groups. Topics covered in 2018 included manga as a gateway
to learning; curriculum ideas for the secondary classroom; teachingmaths through Japanese; and art in the Japanese classroom. Looking
toward Tokyo 2020, the keynote speech was given by Rebecca Bolland,co-ordinator of the Coventry Young Ambassadors project.
During the year some 40 visits were made by volunteers in Greater
London, Brighton, Derby, Manchester and South Wales. For most
students a Japan in Your Classroom visit is their first opportunity to meeta Japanese person and to hear about Japan first-hand; the visits have alasting impact.
Support for school links has continued to be an important elementof the Society’s work. During 2018, Takamatsu Daiichi Senior HighSchool again carried out a science-based exchange with County Upper
School, Bury St Edmunds, and Newstead Wood School, London. Annual
exchange visits took place from Komaki Elementary School, Nagano, toschools in Nottingham and between staff at Reepham Primary School,
Norfolk and Sakado Azuma Kindergarten in Saitama.
A Sixth Form study day was held in London in November, inpartnership with Ritsumeikan University and SOAS (fig. 5). Over 100
students and staff participated in a day of lectures and workshops on
Japanese themes. 2018 workshops included language, food, sport,
manga and art, while lectures gave insights into applied uses of Japanese.
Author and life coach, Beth Kempton spoke about her journey fromJapanese at Durham University, to participation in major sporting andcultural events in Japan and beyond, while Professor Hashimoto Takeshi
gave insights into health and sports research at Ritsumeikan University.
The day concluded with first-hand accounts of a study abroad year
by current students of Japanese, while representatives from fourteen
universities throughout the UK were on hand throughout the day toprovide information on opportunities for further study.

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The Japan Society Year in Review 2018

Fig. 5 Sixth Form Japan Day (November 2018)
At SOAS, University of London

Japan Society Publications
Two new publications were released in 2018. Heaven’s Wind, an anthologyof short stories by five contemporary women writers, with translation inparallel text format and an extended essay by translator, Angus Turvill,
was formally launched in March. British Foreign Secretaries and Japan
1850-1990 was launched at the Society’s Annual General Meeting in July,
with presentations by co-editors Hugh Cortazzi and Antony Best. Work
continued on British Royal and Japanese Imperial Relations and on a
reprint of The Thames and I, a translation of the future Emperor’s memoirof his time studying at Oxford, both for 2019 publication.
Aims of the Japan Society
The vision that drives the Society’s annual activity is the enhancementof understanding of Japanese life and culture and of links between
the UK and Japan. This informs all areas of the programme, whether
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17direct school-focused education initiatives, lectures and seminars forthe general public and business leaders, events introducing aspects ofthe culture of both countries, opportunities for people to meet in more
informal settings, the provision of research facilities through our library,or the programme of small grants made in support of Japan-related
projects that are organized by others.
The board regularly reviews the Society’s activity to ensure thatits key objectives are being met as well as to confirm their continuing
relevance. In the aftermath of the UK’s decision to leave the EU, andwith increasing global tendencies for nations to look inward, theSociety’s role in creating bridges and fostering professional and personal
networks is as important as ever. The Trustees always bear in mind theCharity Commission guidance on public benefit and consider this whenplanning and evaluating our activities and in ensuring that a significant
proportion is accessible to the wider community beyond the Society’s
membership. Many events are open to non-members, while the schools
education programme and the small grants scheme extend throughout
the UK, beyond the Society’s base in London.
The Society encourages any who have an interest in Japan and thebroad UK-Japan relationship to become members and participate inactivities. Reduced membership fees for students and those under 25
years of age are set in order to make membership accessible to the next
generation, who will take the relationship forward in the coming years.
In recent years we have noticed a tendency for people to sign up toreceive newsletters, or to follow the Society on social media, without
becoming members.

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The Japan Society Year in Review 2018