The Council established its first centre in Tokyo in 1953 and its Kyoto centre in 1954. It now has additional offices in Fukuoka, Osaka and Nagoya.
English schools operate in Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka and Fukuoka.
A Cultural Agreement between Japan and Britain was signed in 1960, designating the British Council as Britain'sofficial agency for cultural relations. The British Council in Tokyo serves as the Cultural Department of the British Embassy. The British Council is the United Kingdom's international organisation for educational and cultural relations. Registered in England as a Charity.