The Japan Society Year in Review 2016
Heidi Potter
The Japan Society celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2016, which provided
an opportunity to reflect on how much has changed over the intervening
period. However, ignoring the many social, technological, political andeconomic differences between Britain in Victorian times and that of today,
some things remain the same. The founders of the Japan Society were
fascinated by Japan and its language, culture and traditions, and actively
sought to share knowledge and develop understanding. This is still at
the heart of our mission. From the outset, the Society welcomed both
British and Japanese members and encouraged friendships alongsidelearning. Over the years, our membership has become more diverse,
being open to anyone who supports the Society’s aims, and no longer
requiring approval by committee. It includes people who have lived
and worked in Japan, those seeking to find out more about the country,
Japanese people living in the UK both permanently and on secondment,
businesses working between Japan and the UK and their staff, as well as
students and academics. Our youngest members are in their teens andour oldest in their 90s. Education in its broadest sense continues to be
central to our programme, whether events for members and the generalpublic; work with schools and youth groups; support for community andregional projects through the small grants scheme; or our publications.
In this special year, the Society was honoured to be awarded theJapanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation for its role in promoting
mutual understanding between Japan and the United Kingdom. The
bestowal ceremony took place at an anniversary dinner on 2 November,with special guest, Sir John Major. In presenting the award, Ambassador
Tsuruoka praised the Japan Society as a major player in the evolution of
the Japan-UK partnership, having striven tirelessly over its long history tofoster the warm ties that unite our two countries. In response, speaking
on behalf of the Japan Society, Sir David Warren thanked the Japanese
Government for extending its recognition in this way and paid tribute to
the many individual and cooperate members whose support had been
crucial to the Society’s success. Among the guests at the dinner were twoformer chairmen, Sir Hugh Cortazzi and Christopher Purvis, under whose
8

The Japan Society Year in Review 2016leadership the Society flourished and who continue to offer great support.
The business network
During the year, the programme of business events addressed issuesof mutual concern to Japanese and non-Japanese members, providing
briefings by senior experts and opportunities to engage in discussion.
These included a chairman’s lunch, hosted by King & Wood Mallesons LLP
where Bridget Kendall, Master of Peterhouse, University of Cambridge,
and former BBC diplomatic correspondent, spoke about the state of
Russian-EU relations. This provided senior members of the Society’s
business community with the opportunity to meet to share ideas andinformation, while being briefed on an issue of particular relevance.
Other larger-scale business lectures and seminars were also generously
hosted by corporate members of the Society, or organised in partnershipwith others. One such was a seminar by Robert Ward, Editorial Director of the
Economist Intelligence Unit, who introduced the Unit’s long-term forecasts
for the UK and Japan, looking ahead to 2050. Kimura Tadakazu, former
editor of the Asahi Shimbun joined Japan Society Chairman, David Warren,
in conversation about the occasionally difficult relationship between the
media and politics.
The Society continued to arrange joint lunches in conjunction with theJapanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the UK, which provided
opportunities for Japanese and non-Japanese to meet and to hear fromguest speakers, who were during the year: Sir Edward Lister, Chief of Staff
and Deputy Mayor for Policy and Planning, GLA; the Japanese Ambassador,
Mr Hayashi Keiichi; and Lord Mandelson, who gave his views on Britain andEurope ahead of the June referendum.
The Japan Society values its partnerships with other organisations withsimilar aims and interests in developing a programme which is of interestand benefit to the membership. In the current economic climate, thesharing of up to date information and best practice is particularly important.
Two seminars were held in association with JETRO, in which Koyama Ken,Chief Economist of the Institute of Energy Economics, gave a Japaneseperspective on World Energy; and a seminar with Kenichi Kawasaki of the
National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, considered the impact of the
EU-Japan EPA Free Trade Agreement.
Japan Society Proceedings

910The Japan Society Year in Review 2016

The general events programme
As always, the Society’s general programme in 2016 included events
designed to reflect the diverse interests and enthusiasms of its members.
An annual highlight is the address by the serving British Ambassador
to Japan, which was given in March by Tim Hitchens, reflecting on theprevious year and ongoing cooperation between our two governments
on economic and security issues, as well as highlighting connections on
a more individual level. The event was well attended, with a capacity
audience filling the auditorium at Nomura International for the talkwhich was followed by a question and answer session. (The transcript of
this lecture was printed in Proceedings 152).
Under our ‘lifestyle’ heading, we continued to offer a range of
regular events such as the Japanese Conversation Group’s monthly
meetings for those wishing to maintain and improve their language
skills, and the book club, where regular and occasional participants
came together every second Monday of the month for lively discussions
on a wide range of books including literary classics and contemporary
fiction. Book launch events during the year looked at the Japaneseexperience in wartime Shanghai, with Keiko Itoh’s novel based on thelife of her mother, and celebrated the publication of Ian Nish’s Historyof Manchuria. The Society also joined with the Sainsbury Institute for
the Study of Japanese Arts & Cultures to mark the launch of Carmen
Blacker - Scholar of Religion, Myth and Folklore, an important collectionof writings, diaries and related lectures.
One of the most popular events of the year was an evening inconversation with Eddie Jones, England rugby’s inspirational head coachand former coach of the Japanese national team, hosted by Clifford
Chance. From his experience working with top sportsmen in the twocountries, Eddie Jones provided insights into differences in the culture ofelite sportsmen in the UK and Japan. His acute observations and passion
for his work were an inspiration to all who attended.
Practical activities during the year ranged from sport to cooking!
The annual golf fixtures saw the Japan Society team regain the Collar
Cup from the Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry, while John
Mills won the Japan Society golf tournament. The Japan Society again
participated in the five-a-side football tournament at the Samurai Football
Japan Society Proceedings

11Eddie Jones with the Japan Society teamAcademy, this year fielding two teams, one of which reached the semifinals. Less energy was expended in the cookery workshops, the firstof which gave an introduction to shojin ryori, Japanese temple cuisine
and which seemed to strike a chord with members keen to extend theirrepertoire. Parents and children had the opportunity to work together inmaking Hallowe’en themed bento in a workshop hosted by Clearspring.
Japan Society volunteers provided kimono and calligraphy
workshops at the Victoria & Albert Museum’s Japan Festival for Families,
as well as at the Tanabata Festival at Kew, which has become an annual
fixture. The Society again partnered with Kew Gardens and the Embassyof Japan in organising this celebration, appropriately held in the minka
and bamboo garden over two days in August. This was followed by theeighth annual Japan Matsuri, held in Trafalgar Square on 25 September.
In 2016, the event received special support from the Japan Foundation tobring the Aozasa Shishi-Odori Dance Troupe and Tezuma the magician
to London. We were delighted to welcome again the NHK Radio Taiso
demonstration team, who enthusiastically mobilised visitors to the
12

The Japan Society Year in Review 2016

Square in gentle physical exercise. Japan Matsuri remains true to its rootsin the UK’s Japan-related community, and provides opportunities toenjoy performances by local schools and community groups, including
the Japanese School, London Bunka Yochien, Teikyo School, the British
Suzuki Institute, Nippon Club’s Green Chorus, Okinawa Sanshinkai andmany others.

The Aozasa Shishi-Odori Dance Troupe on stage at Japan Matsuri 2016

Arts and culture events are always popular with members andincluded a lecture by Toyoda Koji, one of Suzuki Shinichi’s first students,
who spoke about the pioneering Suzuki method of teaching the violin andits international impact, followed by a performance from young students in
the UK. It was particularly appropriate in the year which saw the sad loss of
Ninagawa Yukio, that the Society partnered with Shakespeare’s Globe for
Hamlet and Japan, an evening of talks and performances which included
Thelma Holt’s tribute to Ninagawa, Japan Society Chairman David Warren
discussing the reception of Shakespeare in Japan and a performance by
Isoda Aki of her one woman piece A Vision of Ophelia.
Other events included a recital by Vickers Bovey Guitar Duo of Ryan
Probert’s Thirty Six Views of Mount Fuji; a visit to the Pitt Rivers Museum
noh mask collection and an evening exploring the history and current
Japan Society Proceedings

13state of Japanese cut glass, Edo kiriko, which highlighted the influenceof English glass makers in the transmission of skills and development of
the industry.
London Lectures
Japan Society lectures are nothing if not wide-ranging and this wastrue again this year. The monthly academic lecture, held every third
Monday at Swedenborg Hall, forms the core of this aspect of our public
programming. In addition to those featured in this volume, lecturesin 2016 included a reassessment from a military history perspectiveof Japan’s role in the Great War 1914-18, by Ian Gow, director of the
Confucius Institute at the University of Glasgow; an analysis of theJapanese art collection of Scottish engineer, Henry Dyer, by Rosina
Buckland, curator responsible for the Japanese collections, National
Museums Scotland; and an introduction to the current fascination withhaikyo, Japan’s ruins by Mark Pendleton, lecturer in Japanese Studies at
the University of Sheffield. The June lecture offered a rare opportunity
to see archival footage of mingei in Japan, when Marty Gross screened
extracts from his film compendium, including film taken by Bernard
Leach on his visit to Japan. The seventh annual lecture in memory of
Dr Carmen Blacker, organised jointly with the Sainsbury Institute for the
Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures, was given by James McMullen andis reprinted in this volume.
Outside the monthly lecture series, Peter MacMillan spoke about his
new translation of The Tales of Ise and the challenges presented by oneof the most famous works of Japanese literature and introduced some of
his favourite episodes. Lesley Downer looked at the arrival of Commodore
Perry and his black ships from the perspective of the Japanese and American
protagonists, and the stories which form the background to her novel The
Shogun’s Queen.
Japan Society Small Grants
An annual sum of up to £30,000 is set aside for grants in supportof small-scale projects and events related to Japan. These grants
provide opportunities for people throughout the UK to participate
in education and exchange and thus contribute to raising awareness
14

The Japan Society Year in Review 2016and understanding of the country and its culture in places where theJapan Society has no regular activity. Priority is given to applications
for grassroots projects and for activities involving schools and othereducational establishments. In 2016, 30 grants were made averaging£700 with funding totalling £21,000 being awarded in support ofgrassroots projects in the UK. In line with the objectives of the grants
scheme, most of the activities supported had an educational element,
fostered exchange between the UK and Japan, or provided opportunities
to bring Japanese culture to a wide group of people.
As in previous years, the Society supported a number of school-based
extended projects, ranging from whole school Japan days to interdisciplinary
learning days and enrichment weeks. With relatively small amounts ofadditional funding, schools are able to bring in experts to run specialist
workshops to complement and enrich curriculum-based studies. The JapanClub at Fraserburgh Academy ran alternate language and craft weeks,giving participating students an introduction to Japanese and its culturalcontext. Other schools organised cross-curricular events over a shorter
period, with a day or week of concentrated activity. The British Cartographic
Society continued its Restless Earth workshop series using the Great East
Japan Earthquake and tsunami as a case study to learn about disaster
response activities: with authentic materials and real data, participants gain
an understanding of Japanese human and physical geography.
The Society also supported projects involving young people outside
the school system. On the Sussex coast, a group of 16 - 25 year olds
engaged in a three month programme of workshops exploring different
aspects of Japanese culture, while Fife Scouts welcomed a group from
Iwate for ten days of activities and homestay, and in south Wales, manga
workshops formed part of the annual Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival.
A collaboration between the Royal Armouries in Leeds and theHalifax-based Textile Arts Group created an exhibition of textiles which
explored traditional techniques and the construction of Japanese armour,in the context of their contemporary uses. In addition to the exhibition,members of the Group held public sessions to demonstrate techniques
used in the artworks and to discuss the inspiration for the contemporary
works and their links to the collection and Japanese heritage.
The Society again supported the Wasurenagusa project, a valuable
Japan Society Proceedings

15

initiative which aims to tell the story of the Japanese community in the UK
through personal narratives, with a grant in 2016 enabling the project tobe extended to include interviews in the North of England, Scotland andfurther afield. Funding made to the Devon Guild of Craftsmen supported
music and theatre performances to accompany an exhibition of the workof four Japan-based potters. The ground-breaking Yo no Bi project entered
its second phase, with sound artists Oshiro Makoto and Suzueri touring theNorth of England, producing new sonic works and holding performances
and talks. Small grants also supported community-based Japan festivals in
Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Kent, Lincoln and Sheffield.
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. As well as working in partnership with local authorities,
it offers materials directly to schools throughout the country, including
loan resources supplied to approximately 70 schools each year.
The Japan Conference for Schools organised with the JapanFoundation at the Embassy of Japan involved over 50 teachers taking
part in a series of practical workshops alongside discussion groups on
topics including school linking; preparation for speaking exams; the Online
Resource for Japanese Archaeology and Cultural Heritage (ORJACH); and an
update from Pearson on changes to GCSE Japanese. In this year’s key note
lecture, Baroness Coussins (Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on
Modern Languages) spoke about the importance of language education.
During the year over 60 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 meet a Japanese
16

The Japan Society Year in Review 2016

person and to hear about Japan first-hand; the visits have a lasting impact.
A series of training sessions was held to support the volunteers, coveringboth general matters such as classroom management and techniques forengaging pupils actively, and subject specific content.
Support for school links has continued to be an important elementof the Society’s work. During 2016, new partnerships were establishedand existing links strengthened through exchange trips. Kobe University
Fuzoku Junior High School again visited the UK, this time taking
students to participate in exchanges with Cirencester Deer Park School
and Alleyn’s School in London. Takamatsu Daiichi Senior High School
again visited County Upper School in Bury St Edmunds, for an exchange
focused on science activities, with Newstead Wood School joining thispartnership in the autumn. A number of primary school exchanges
also took place: Cropwell Primary School in Nottingham had anothersuccessful visit from their partner, Komaki Elementary School in Nagano
and teachers from Reepham Primary School participated in an exchange
visit to Japanese partner, Sadako Azuma Kindergarten in Saitama. In
January, Escomb Primary School, Bishop Auckland hosted a visit fromtheir partner school Ogawara Minami Elementary School near Sendai
before making a reciprocal visit in October. In the virtual world, Japan UK

Ogawara Minami Elementary School visiting Escomb Primary School

Japan Society Proceedings

17LIVE! and related services continued to support schools in developing
their links and work began to redevelop the site to take advantage ofimprovements in technology available to schools. Ysgol Gymuned
Y Fali and its partner, Kitauchi Elementary School in Nara Prefecture,completed a joint musical collaboration Welsh Breeze. Students in thetwo schools worked together to compose and write lyrics for a song,which was recorded and edited with footage of their localities, to create
an inspiring video record of the friendships developed online.
Japan Society Publications
At the end of 2014, the board re-established a publications committeewith a brief to review the Society’s work in publishing and identify
material for future consideration. Following a second invitation forproposals issued in early 2016, nine were received which were reviewed
by the committee alongside some 2015 proposals carried forward forfollow up. It was decided to proceed with publication of a selection ofshort stories by Japanese women writers.
The tenth volume in the series, Japan and Britain, BiographicalPortraits was published in 2016 and launched at the Annual General
Meeting in June. Containing some 69 portraits, the volume brought thecollection of memoirs to a cumulative total of nearly 500. Turning the
spotlight onto individuals and organisations that have contributed to therelationship between Japan and the UK, this series has been instrumental
in fulfilling the Society’s mission to promote learning in respect of thetwo countries. In October, the Society launched a second publication:
Japanese Studies in Britain: a survey and history, which assesses the stateof Japanese studies in the UK today and argues that this should remaina priority at a time when Britain is going through a radical re-evaluationof its role in the world.
2016 also saw the launch of the Japan Society e-library which currently
includes thirteen volumes, including the Biographical Portraits series andrelated publications. The ability to search by keyword and theme enables
readers to discover new connections within the wealth of content containedin these publications.

18

The Japan Society Year in Review 2016