Farewell to Japan

I leave Japan at the end of February on completion of my term as Ambassador. It was also my first posting as a young diplomat, so it’s rather an appropriate place to be ending my career in.

I have been fascinated by Japan since 1983, when I visited on a study tour, after winning an essay contest sponsored by the Japanese Foreign Ministry. Learning the language on the Foreign Office training programme at London University’s SOAS, and the Embassy’s Kamakura school, was hard work. But it was a great asset for working here, and helps you to understand the culture as well as the language.

Japan’s bubble economy in the late 80s, was a heady time, as the country rapidly internationalised. It was the beginning of the wave of Japanese investment in the UK, which now employs some 150,000 people in Britain. Back then, Japan ran huge trade surpluses with the UK, today our £32 billion bilateral trade is broadly in balance – quite a turnaround.

During my four years here, the UK/Japan relationship has continued to go from strength to strength, particularly in the field of maritime security, with regular visits by the Royal Navy. We’ve also signed a new bilateral trade deal, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, and Japan is actively supporting our application to join the CPTPP regional trade pact. Japan will be a hugely important partner as the UK increasingly tilts towards Indo Pacific.

The first three years of my time as Ambassador here were packed with activity, visitors and travel. Highlights included accompanying the Prince of Wales to the Enthronement of the new Emperor, and watching England reach the final of the Rugby World Cup. My final year has been very different, overshadowed by COVID, and the different kind of work that involved, including organising the evacuation from the Diamond Princess cruiseship. Generally though, Japan has experienced much lower rates of infection and fatalities than comparator countries.

I managed to fulfil my ambition to visit all Japan’s 47 prefectures, from snow-covered Hokkaido to sub-tropical Okinawa. It’s an island nation of coastline, mountains and lakes and much natural beauty, as well as an enormously rich culture and history. What a privilege to be able to see so much of it. Japan will always be part of my life. I’m handing over to my good friend Julia Longbottom, who will be our first female ambassador in Tokyo. Have fun Julia.