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Guest of honour Seiko Noda, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, was among some 400 guests at this year’s Queen’s Birthday Party hosted by HE Paul Madden CMG at his residence on 14 June. Guests were treated to music from the band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and the British School in Tokyo’s jazz band, a display of luxury British cars, and a showcase of British food, including a lemon and elderflower cake based on the one from the recent wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The theme was “Innovation is GREAT, AI” and guests were entertained by various AI-related visuals and demonstrations involving UK–Japan collaboration. The ambassador’s speech described the deepening of the UK–Japan relationship since Prime Minister Theresa May’s visit to Japan in August last year, including visits by three Royal Navy ships, and a new trade and investment working group to take forward a future bilateral trade agreement. The party was sponsored by a number of leading British firms. PHOTOS: ©BRITISH EMBASSY TOKYO/JUN TAKAGI
Lemon and elderflower cake as featured in NHK BS Premium programme “Exquisite! Sweets Magic Special on Great British Royal Wedding Sweets”.
Ambassador Madden delivered opening remarks at the start of the party.
Guests were entertained by the British School in Tokyo’s jazz band.
Ambassador Madden, his wife Sarah and Patrick Bannister, First Secretary, Science & Innovation (far right), with representatives from Toshiba Corporation, showcasing the company’s “Talking Head” AI technology.
The rain held off and some 400 guests were able to walk around the lawn of the ambassador’s residence.
MiRo, the fully programmable autonomous robot made by the UK firm, Consequential Robotics.
Ambassador Madden and Seiko Noda, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, toast Queen Elizabeth II and Emperor Akihito.
A selection of luxury and high-performance British cars decorated the embassy plaza.
Some of the 37 cyclists who completed a 500km Knights in White Lycra ride from Nikko to Ichinoseki were welcomed by people supported by Mirai no Mori, one of the organisations for which the race raised funds.
Mirai no Mori is an NPO helping to empower marginalised youth in Japan. Participants in the race were able to meet some of the young people being helped by the organisation at a care home in Ichinoseki.
Knights in White Lycra riders, led by founder Rob Williams (second right), raised more than ¥8mn through this year’s event, and battled rain, wind and fog on their epic journey.
The re-opening of the Television Centre in White City, London, was held on 12 April. The iconic building, former home of the BBC, comprises accommodation, shops and restaurants. The redevelopment was carried out by Japanese property firm Mitsui Fudosan and British developer Stanhope. Attending the event were (from left): Japanese Ambassador to the UK, Koji Tsuruoka; Alistair Shaw, managing director of Television Centre, at Stanhope Plc; Micheal Dal Bello, senior vice president, Real Estate at AIMCo; Takashi Yamamoto, managing director, board member at Mitsui Fudosan Co.; Eiichiro Onozawa, managing director of Mitsui Fudosan (UK).
The GREAT British Food Market 2018 was held in Marunouchi, Tokyo on 4-10 June. The event saw British retailers and importers display their products at market stalls.
Professor Michael Clarke (right) is awarded the Foreign Minister’s Commendation by Japanese Ambassador to the UK, Koji Tsuruoka, on 12 March. Clarke is the former director-general of the Royal United Services Institute, a defence and security think tank. The honour is for his promoting of mutual understanding between Japan and the UK.
Lori Henderson MBE and Kaori Sasaki seen at the preparation meeting for the 23rd annual International Conference for Women in Business on 7 July. Sasaki is the founder and chair of the event, and founder and CEO of ewoman, Inc., and UNICUL International, Inc.
A housewarming was held at the new Japan House cultural centre in central London ahead of its opening on 22 June. The facility aims to showcase Japanese products and culture to people in the UK.
BCCJ members took part in a study session on 20 June with a representative of the British Council. The topic was Japanese perceptions of the UK before and since the Brexit referendum.
The Custom Media team at the RI Awards (from left): Alec Jordan, editor; Robert Heldt, president; Anthony Head, business development director; Edvard Vondra, advertising sales manager; Megumi Okazaki, head of project management; Leon van Houwelingen, business development director; Yoshiki Tatezaki, project coordinator.
On 19 May, the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan held a royal wedding viewing party at the Conrad Tokyo hotel’s China Blue restaurant. Guests gathered to eat, drink and celebrate the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The event proved so popular that a second viewing party was organised at the hotel’s Twenty Eight Bar and Lounge.
BCCJ President David Bickle addressed the guests, resplendent in patriotic outfit.
There were smiles aplenty as people ate, drank and watched the wedding in Windsor.
Those attending the event were able to view the wedding live on a large screen, thanks to the BBC.