Media
Volunteers Visit Every Prefecture
Two Britons recently completed a 100-day tour of Japan’s 47 prefectures, in a bid to help bring back foreign tourists to the country, the Mainichi Shimbun reported on 24 January.
Charging Points Outnumber EVs
Sales of electric vehicles in the UK have slumped so badly that there are now more charging points on the road than cars that use them, the Daily Mail reported on 15 January.
Charity Cyclist Is Japan Bound
An intrepid cyclist is attempting to travel 19,312km to Tokyo on two wheels, the Bristol Evening Post reported on 4 January.
Firm Invests in Wind Power
Marubeni Corporation plans to treble its investment in green energy in the UK to more than £600mn over the next few years, the London Press Service reported on 13 January.News in Brief
Your monthly digest of UK-Japan news.
Sushi and Sake Ice Bar Opens in London
This winter, Aqua Kyoto is set to be the coolest venue in London with the launch of its Sake and Sushi Ice Bar, according to a 29 November press release issued by the Japan National Tourism Organization.
Kobe and Arsenal Ladies Clash in Charity Match
Women’s league champions INAC Kobe Leonessa drew 1-1 with Arsenal Ladies in a charity match for the 11 March disasters, the Mainichi Shimbun reported on 1 December.
Wales Office in Tobacco Row
Cheryl Gillan, the secretary of state for Wales, defended her decision to attend a posh horticultural event as the guest of Japan Tobacco International (JTI), the Daily Post reported on 14 December.
Solar Power Success Story
With more than 25 years of experience in developing solar technology, a leading UK manufacturer of a key component in solar-power systems is developing its traditional markets in Japan and Europe to include China, Taiwan and the US, according to a December London Press Service report.
Wagyu Hybrid Raises the Steaks
A hybrid beef, made using Japanese beef (wagyu), is now exclusively available at a London supermarket. The meat, sold at low prices, is the result of a three-year breeding programme, the Mainichi Shimbun reported on 29 November.
Wembley Hosts Tohoku Teens
A group of Tohoku high school footballers arrived in Britain to play at Wembley Stadium, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported on 23 November.News in Brief
Your monthly digest of UK-Japan news.
Globe Traveller Arrives in Chiba
An Englishwoman attempting a solo voyage around the world by bike and kayak arrived at Choshi-shi, Chiba Prefecture, the Mainichi Shimbun reported on 19 November.
World’s Bus Operators Want Hybrid Motors
A fleet of 27 hybrid electric versions of London’s famous red buses has just completed 1mn miles of “clean, reliable revenue service”, thanks to BAE Systems’ technology that is also being used by some buses in Japan, according to a 26 October London Press Service report.
Record Prices for Art
The world records for inro (nested boxes) and netsuke (miniature carvings) sold at auction were broken in the sale of the Harriet Szechenyi Collection of Japanese Art that took place at Bonhams in London on 8 November, according to artdaily.org.
Sheep Star in Fashion Show
A fashion show for sheep was held at the British Embassy Tokyo to promote eco-friendly wool, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported on 4 October. TV Asahi was included among some 20 media outlets that featured the event titled, Campaign for Wool Reception—Field Day in Japan.
Murakami Gets Harry Potter Treatment
London bookshops had opened their doors at midnight to sell Haruki Murakami’s latest novel, newspapers around the world reported on 17 October. 1Q84 was released in Japanese two years ago, when its first print run sold out in just one day. The book is now one of the Amazon top 20 titles.
Luxury Car Imports Defy Downturn
Despite sputtering auto sales in Japan, the super high end of the market, pitching dream cars such as Lamborghinis and Rolls-Royces, has continued to run full throttle here, the Mainichi Shimbun reported on 12 October.
Beckii Debuts in UK with Single
After conquering Japan, Manx Radio reported on 20 October that teenage pop sensation Beckii Cruel was set to release her first UK single the following week. The alter ego of schoolgirl Rebecca Flint from the village of Laxey, on the Isle of Mann, shot to fame by posting videos of herself dancing to Japanese anime songs on YouTube.
Tokyo Troupe to Join Shakespeare Festival
The Ninagawa Company will join artists from more than 50 arts organisations around the world and take part in the UK’s World Shakespeare Festival (WSF), according to a 1 October press release.News in Brief
Your monthly digest of UK-Japan news.
Mobile Concert For Quake Zone
Indian-born British sculptor Anish Kapoor and architect Arata Isozaki will create a mobile concert hall to bring music and arts to areas hit by the March earthquake and tsunami, the Sankei Shimbun reported on 6 September.
Briton Designs EV Sports Car
Toray Industries Inc. unveiled a carbon fibre two-seat prototype of an electric sports car created by renowned Formula 1 designer Gordon Murray, the Asahi Shimbun reported on 14 September.
Car Firm Marks 25 Years in UK
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. celebrated 25 years in Britain with a ceremony in Sunderland, the Mainichi Shimbun reported on 9 September. In 1986, Nissan became the first Japanese car manufacturer to set up a base in the UK, where it now operates the country’s most productive car plant.
Olympic HQ for UK and Japan Opened
Lord (Sebastian) Coe opened SportPark at Loughborough University, the preparation camp headquarters of Team GB and Japan for the 2011 London Olympic and Paralympic Games, the London Press Service reported on 12 September.
News in Brief
Your monthly digest of UK-Japan news.
Midlands a Magnet for Foreign Direct Investment
Birmingham is the UK’s second most attractive area for foreign direct investment (FDI), according to Ernst & Young’s 2011 European attractiveness survey, the London Press Service reported on 16 August.
Parliament: BCCJ and UKTI Unite in Quake Relief Efforts
The British Chamber of Commerce in Japan and the British Embassy Tokyo’s UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) teams worked closely together after the 11 March earthquake to match requests for emergency supplies to what firms could offer, Hansard reported on 7 June.
News in Brief
Your monthly digest of UK-Japan news.
