Pig in Japan

Hosting the Tokyo launch of Peppa Pig last week made a nice change from giving speeches about Brexit and worrying about North Korean missile tests.

The hugely popular British cartoon character which has been a favourite with children around the world, since its inception in 2004 has finally come to Japan. The Japanese with their manga traditions have many famous anime characters of their own. But British ones are very popular here too. And Entertainment One’s association with Sega Toys and TV Tokyo means that Peppa is expected to be a massive hit here as well.

Each generation of kids (and their parents) find new cartoon characters to love. For my children, now in their 20s, it was Postman Pat and Fireman Sam, although I was pleased that Noddy, from my own childhood was relaunched around that time too. But I found myself wishing we’d had Peppa as well.

Cute six year old Lara Aoyama who voices Peppa, and tiny four year old Tano Suzuki who voices her brother George gave interviews with impressive confidence. I think that on one occasion, he might have answered a question before it was asked, a bit like the Two Ronnies “Mastermind” sketch. But no-one minded. They must have been the youngest speakers we’ve put in front of a microphone at the Residence. The next person to use that microphone was the Chairman of Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority, at a seminar we hosted the following day.

It’s been a varied few days for the Embassy. The previous week we had Liz Truss Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Matt Hancock Digital Minister, and Antonia Romeo DIT Permanent Secretary here, all on different programmes. And we ended the week with the Band of the Coldstream Guards performing at my Residence for Armed Forces Day. It’s this variety which makes the life of an Ambassador so interesting: no two days are the same. But it’s also, of course, an indication of the extraordinary range and diversity of the relationship between two major countries, and the role which embassies play in supporting it.