Ambassador’s Remarks on the National Day Online Event to mark the Birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan
2021/3/3
Your Royal Highness, Your Excellencies, My Lords,
Distinguished guests.
Thank you for taking time and attending the national day event broadcast live from the Embassy this evening, which marks the birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. It seems to me that we are in the perfect weather today, telling us spring is around the corner. But, to tell the truth, this is quite unexpected to me, because, before arriving here just two weeks ago, I imagined chilly, rainy and foggy weather in London.
His Majesty turned 61 on 23 February, last Tuesday. It is a great honour for my wife and me to host an event of this kind, and we are so pleased that over 500 guests have joined us this evening.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress delivered their New Year greetings in video format for the first time ever this year. They conveyed to the nation and to the whole world their sympathy for the difficult situation facing so many people and their profound hope that 2021 would bring better times for everyone. As we echo these sentiments, please join me in wishing His Majesty continued good health and wellbeing. I am very pleased that His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester and Minister Nigel Adams, Minister of State for Asia, will join this celebration with their messages this evening.
This is my first appearance before such a large gathering since I arrived in the UK just two weeks ago. I feel truly honoured to have been appointed as the Ambassador of Japan to the UK at a right moment for further promoting our relations. This year, Japan and the UK are laying four major milestones for our ties, which I will outline shortly.
The first milestone involves another leap in Japan-UK economic relations following Brexit and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the UK and the EU. The Japan-UK Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, brought into effect on 1 January this year, is a matter for great satisfaction to many of us. The EPA is quite ambitious and contains some of the world's most advanced content, particularly regarding the digital sector, that will prove to be highly significant as we grapple with the pandemic and its aftermath. This legal framework will well serve our economic partnership in trade and investment, which symbolises our long history as free trading nations. In addition, Japan cordially welcomes the UK’s application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on Trans-Pacific Partnership, CPTPP, and its readiness to work for the notably high-level rules underpinning this agreement.
Secondly, I look forward to the further enhancement of Japan-UK cooperation on global issues. We are painfully aware, now more than ever, that our future cannot be sustainable without tackling a range of interwoven global issues, such as infectious diseases and climate change. As a matter of fact, it is ironic that the COVID-19 pandemic has eloquently taught us multilateral cooperation among international partners is the only way to confront serious global challenges. This year, the UK chairs the G7 and COP26, where world leaders will once again be able to discuss such issues face to face. Japan is ready to offer the fruits of its experience and ingenuity in close cooperation with the UK as a means of contributing to the success of those gatherings.
Thirdly, I am delighted to see the strong commitment on both sides to promote security and defence cooperation between Japan and the UK. Facing serious challenges in peace and security, including unilateral attempts to change the status quo and increase tensions, both of us confirm the recognition that we are each other’s closest security partners in Europe and Asia respectively. Based on the shared value of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, the two nations are strengthening cooperation towards a free and open Indo-Pacific. The planned visit by HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH and her Carrier Strike Group to East Asia this year will certainly provide a significant opportunity to elevate our security and defence cooperation to a new level.
Fourthly, cultural and people-to-people exchanges between Japan and the UK will continue to develop at pace in 2021. The Japan-UK Season of Culture began in 2019 and has seen an extraordinary variety of Japan-related events taking place across the UK. The Season was due to draw to a close at the end of 2020. However, in light of the suspensions made necessary by the pandemic and also taking into account the postponement of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, we are pleased to share with you that the Season’s activities will continue to the end of 2021. Indeed, we hope the Season will be more accessible than ever, with more institutions including online content as part of their programming and so allowing people to take part in events from wherever they may be.
By the way, in the latter half of today’s event, we also offer a mini-seminar and raffle of sake, made possible by the generous cooperation of the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association. I daresay many of you will find yourselves enjoying sake at home as a result.
Now, I would like to ask your attention to another tragedy whose 10th anniversary we will mark next month. I am referring to the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in March, 2011. In the aftermath of this disaster, the British Government and the people extended their generous support, for which we were – and remain – most grateful. Over the last decade Japan has made great strides with its reconstruction and revitalisation efforts in the affected areas, and the new phase of the efforts is expected to start in April this year. I was truly shocked when the same region was once again hit by a strong earthquake two weeks ago and would like to offer my sincere sympathy to the people in the areas concerned. With this in mind the King’s Singers, who opened the event this evening, will sing a tribute to those who lost their lives 10 years ago and a message of hope for a better future. We hope you will join us in peaceful reflection during this time.
While there is much left to do with tackling the pandemic caused by COVID-19, in the past natural disasters and infectious diseases have been overcome through joint efforts and international cooperation. In this spirit and bearing in mind the four milestones I have mentioned, let us make this year the launchpad for further progress in Japan-UK relations. All of my staff and I are committed to working towards this goal. And we know that, in this endeavour, we look forward to the cooperation and support of our colleagues and friends in the UK.
Thank you very much for your attention.
Distinguished guests.
Thank you for taking time and attending the national day event broadcast live from the Embassy this evening, which marks the birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. It seems to me that we are in the perfect weather today, telling us spring is around the corner. But, to tell the truth, this is quite unexpected to me, because, before arriving here just two weeks ago, I imagined chilly, rainy and foggy weather in London.
His Majesty turned 61 on 23 February, last Tuesday. It is a great honour for my wife and me to host an event of this kind, and we are so pleased that over 500 guests have joined us this evening.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress delivered their New Year greetings in video format for the first time ever this year. They conveyed to the nation and to the whole world their sympathy for the difficult situation facing so many people and their profound hope that 2021 would bring better times for everyone. As we echo these sentiments, please join me in wishing His Majesty continued good health and wellbeing. I am very pleased that His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester and Minister Nigel Adams, Minister of State for Asia, will join this celebration with their messages this evening.
This is my first appearance before such a large gathering since I arrived in the UK just two weeks ago. I feel truly honoured to have been appointed as the Ambassador of Japan to the UK at a right moment for further promoting our relations. This year, Japan and the UK are laying four major milestones for our ties, which I will outline shortly.
The first milestone involves another leap in Japan-UK economic relations following Brexit and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the UK and the EU. The Japan-UK Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, brought into effect on 1 January this year, is a matter for great satisfaction to many of us. The EPA is quite ambitious and contains some of the world's most advanced content, particularly regarding the digital sector, that will prove to be highly significant as we grapple with the pandemic and its aftermath. This legal framework will well serve our economic partnership in trade and investment, which symbolises our long history as free trading nations. In addition, Japan cordially welcomes the UK’s application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on Trans-Pacific Partnership, CPTPP, and its readiness to work for the notably high-level rules underpinning this agreement.
Secondly, I look forward to the further enhancement of Japan-UK cooperation on global issues. We are painfully aware, now more than ever, that our future cannot be sustainable without tackling a range of interwoven global issues, such as infectious diseases and climate change. As a matter of fact, it is ironic that the COVID-19 pandemic has eloquently taught us multilateral cooperation among international partners is the only way to confront serious global challenges. This year, the UK chairs the G7 and COP26, where world leaders will once again be able to discuss such issues face to face. Japan is ready to offer the fruits of its experience and ingenuity in close cooperation with the UK as a means of contributing to the success of those gatherings.
Thirdly, I am delighted to see the strong commitment on both sides to promote security and defence cooperation between Japan and the UK. Facing serious challenges in peace and security, including unilateral attempts to change the status quo and increase tensions, both of us confirm the recognition that we are each other’s closest security partners in Europe and Asia respectively. Based on the shared value of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, the two nations are strengthening cooperation towards a free and open Indo-Pacific. The planned visit by HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH and her Carrier Strike Group to East Asia this year will certainly provide a significant opportunity to elevate our security and defence cooperation to a new level.
Fourthly, cultural and people-to-people exchanges between Japan and the UK will continue to develop at pace in 2021. The Japan-UK Season of Culture began in 2019 and has seen an extraordinary variety of Japan-related events taking place across the UK. The Season was due to draw to a close at the end of 2020. However, in light of the suspensions made necessary by the pandemic and also taking into account the postponement of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, we are pleased to share with you that the Season’s activities will continue to the end of 2021. Indeed, we hope the Season will be more accessible than ever, with more institutions including online content as part of their programming and so allowing people to take part in events from wherever they may be.
By the way, in the latter half of today’s event, we also offer a mini-seminar and raffle of sake, made possible by the generous cooperation of the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association. I daresay many of you will find yourselves enjoying sake at home as a result.
Now, I would like to ask your attention to another tragedy whose 10th anniversary we will mark next month. I am referring to the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in March, 2011. In the aftermath of this disaster, the British Government and the people extended their generous support, for which we were – and remain – most grateful. Over the last decade Japan has made great strides with its reconstruction and revitalisation efforts in the affected areas, and the new phase of the efforts is expected to start in April this year. I was truly shocked when the same region was once again hit by a strong earthquake two weeks ago and would like to offer my sincere sympathy to the people in the areas concerned. With this in mind the King’s Singers, who opened the event this evening, will sing a tribute to those who lost their lives 10 years ago and a message of hope for a better future. We hope you will join us in peaceful reflection during this time.
While there is much left to do with tackling the pandemic caused by COVID-19, in the past natural disasters and infectious diseases have been overcome through joint efforts and international cooperation. In this spirit and bearing in mind the four milestones I have mentioned, let us make this year the launchpad for further progress in Japan-UK relations. All of my staff and I are committed to working towards this goal. And we know that, in this endeavour, we look forward to the cooperation and support of our colleagues and friends in the UK.
Thank you very much for your attention.