Welcome: The Japan Society
A very warm welcome to the BCCJ’s newest member, The Japan Society.
The Japan Society is the leading independent body in the United Kingdom dedicated to the enhancement of the British-Japanese relationship. With a history stretching back to 1891, its members are committed to promoting deep and lasting understanding between our two countries.
The Society has Individual, Corporate, and Institutional Members and strives to strengthen and deepen meaningful understanding and connections. It achieves this through events, education activities, publications, communications, small grants, and serving as secretariat to the British-Japanese All-Party Parliamentary Group and to the UK-Japan 21st Century Group.
The Society organizes around 100 events per year, spanning business, arts and culture, and contemporary issues, along with education events and special events. Highlights include the Annual Lecture from the British Ambassador, the Annual Dinner, and the Japan Matsuri, held in Trafalgar Square. Events range from large lectures to online ‘salons’, from private ‘Chair’s lunches’ for supporters and key political and business figures to hands-on workshops such as woodblock print making. Some of these events are available to join online, with many available online to members after the event.
In 2024 the Society reached over 60,000 students in the UK with their education programming. This is targeted at schools and students who would otherwise not have the opportunity to engage with Japan in their curriculum. Programmes range from ‘Japan in Your Classroom’, with volunteers working in schools, to downloadable resource packs for teachers. The most recent two of these, one on sumo, commissioned by the Royal Albert Hall, and one on the history of Samurai, created with support from The British Museum, are examples of the quality of their education work.
A Japan in Your Classroom volunteer introducing UK Students to Kamishibai
In 2024 the Society also played a key role in the State Visit of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan, including organising a reception at which His Majesty the Emperor spoke. This event brought together five key Japan-UK organisations, with the Society acting as the connecting thread.
HM The Emperor of Japan addresses guests alongside The Japan Society’s former Chair Bill Emmott
The Rt Hon Greg Clark, former Minister and Trade Envoy to Japan and regular visitor to the BCCJ, took over from Bill Emmott as Chair of the Society on the 1st of January 2025. Greg is keen to develop the Society’s business to business connections as well as engage more with the ‘new enthusiasts’ for Japan.
Mami Mizutori delivering the Inaugural Sir Hugh Cortazzi Lecture, hosted by the FCDO in the Locarno Suite
The whole team at The Japan Society is delighted to be joining the BCCJ community and looks forward to opportunities to engage in our work. The BCCJ is pleased to welcome them and encourages BCCJ members to keep an eye on their active events programme and take part wherever possible.
Website: https://www.japansociety.org.uk/contact
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thejapansociety
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejapansociety/
For General Enquiries
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: 020 7935 0475
ザ・ジャパン・ソサエティ（日本協会）について
日本協会とは、英国において、日英間の友好関係の強化を主な目的として組織された団体です。1891年から続く長い歴史があり、会員の方々とともに両国間の永続的な相互理解を深めるよう努めてきました。
当協会の主な目標は、次のとおりです。
日本や日本に関連する学習を推進し、教育を向上させること。
伝統的なものから現代的なものまで、様々な側面における日本や日本の人々に関する研究を促進し、その研究成果を一般の人にも理解・利用しやすくすること。
日本人による英国およびその文化の研究を促進し、日本と英国の教育交流を推進すること。
現在、個人会員・法人会員合わせて約1,000名の会員を有し、その45％程が日本人です。様々なプログラムを通じて、会員及び日本に関心を持つ方々が交流し、意見交換ができる場を提供しています。英国各地の学校との協働や、地域におけるプロジェクトへの少額助成の支援を通して、日本についての理解を促し、深めるような活動を実施しています。