The Japan Society Annual General Meeting 2011
The Society’s 2011 AGM took place on 15 June 2011 at the Embassy of Japan. The
membership was well represented and we are grateful to all who attended and who took thetime to vote by proxy. The meeting was followed by a very beneficial discussion in small
groups, each looking at different aspects of the Japan Society’s activity.
Minutes of the 114th Annual General Meeting of The Japan Society
Held at the Embassy of Japan, 101-104 Piccadilly, London W1at 6.00 p.m. on Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Christopher Purvis, the Chairman, opened the meeting by welcoming all those present anddeclaring that a quorum was present and that the meeting was duly constituted. He gave aparticular welcome to the Society’s President, the Japanese Ambassador, Mr Keiichi Hayashi.
This was his first AGM as President, since taking up his post in February. He invited
Ambassador Hayashi to make a few comments.
Ambassador Hayashi
Three months had passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Ambassador
Hayashi spoke of the task facing the government and people of Japan in rebuilding the areas
devastated by this catastrophe. He focused on the support of the government and people of
the United Kingdom and thanked the Japan Society for its quick response in immediately
establishing the Tohoku Earthquake Relief Fund. He noted that the Fund would provide real
solace and support to the people who needed it, thus strengthening the bonds of friendshipbetween our two peoples. In this context, the Ambassador reflected on the importance ofinteraction and relations overseas; the Society’s ongoing work to promote exchanges between
Japan and UK was particularly worthy of strong support.
Christopher Purvis
The Chairman also reflected on the earthquake and the tremendous and spontaneous reaction
from members, which resulted in the setting up of the Tohoku Earthquake Relief Fund. TheSociety was most grateful for the many offers of time and practical assistance as well as
financial contributions. Some 100 schools had participated in the letter writing project to send
messages to Tohoku. Thanks to the efforts of a committed team of volunteers these had beentranslated before sending on. A sub-committee had been set up to liaise with the NPO
networks in the affected regions to ensure that the Fund was disbursed most effectively tocharitable and voluntary organizations in Tohoku for the long term recovery and rebuildingof lives and livelihoods.
The Chairman invited members to remain after the formal business of the AGM to share theirviews with office staff and trustees on different aspects of the Japan Society’s work: themembership experience, events, education, the Japan Society mission, communication, thebusiness network.
The Notice calling the meeting and the Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements were taken
as read. Before turning to the three items of formal business on the agenda, the Chairman
invited Members to make comments and questions.

Comments and Questions from Members
Sir Hugh Cortazzi enquired about the status of the annual Proceedings. Heidi Potter, theChief Executive, said that it was hoped to publish this before the end of the year, but theoffice had had to adapt to the current situation and recent unexpected workloads. Proceedings
still remained an important part of the Society’s output.
Wendy Arnold hoped that another Japan Societies Forum would be convened. It wasacknowledged that this was a very useful event for those involved in other Japan societies
and related organizations. Heidi Potter said that the Society would endeavour to organize one
as soon as possible, but events this year had had an impact on the wider programme.
Agenda Items
Christopher Purvis explained that there were three ordinary resolutions to be considered.
Votes (including proxy votes) would be counted during the discussion group exercise. The
results were announced at the end of the evening.
The following resolutions were passed:
1. To receive and adopt the audited annual accounts for the financial year ended 31 December
2010 and the Trustees’ report.
2. To reappoint Richard Place Dobson as auditors and to authorize the Board to approve theirremuneration as thought fit.
3. To elect the following Ordinary Trustees of the Company:
Andrew Cahn
Sean Curtin
Lydia Gomersall
Hiroshi Hattori
Akihiro Tsuchiya
Council members who had served during the year, but who were standing down were thankedfor their contributions to the Society: David Powers (as Editor, overseeing the Society’spublications); Jun Kobayashi; Koji Nakamura; Paul Dimond; Andrew Fraser. Sumio Kusaka,
who had served ex officio as Consul General, had returned to Japan and Hitoshi Noda waswelcomed in his place.
Documents
If you wish to receive a hard copy of the annual accounts and Council Members’ report,
please contact us.