400 years ago: The English mission to Japan and its legacy – Timon Screech
This illustrated lecture will outline the historical facts, but also bring to life the gripping story of human interaction, bravery and mutual attempts at comprehension, that surround the first trade interactions between Britain and Japan in 1613, 400 years ago this September. The Clove left England together with two other vessels of the East India…
Public Seminar – The Japan Mint and the Royal Mint: A History of Exchange
When the Meiji government came into power in 1868 it recognised the pressing need to produce a credible and reliable currency which would aid the modernisation of Japan. Thus, in 1871 it established the Japan Mint in Osaka where high-quality coins would be produced. Japan developed its mint by combining traditional Japanese techniques with knowledge…
A pre-G8 overview – Dr Gerard Lyons, Economic Advisor to the Mayor of London
A short time before the G8 summit in the UK, an overview of the global economy by a highly respected economist will be useful to all members. Dr Gerard Lyons will focus on the UK and Europe and also on Japan and its regions but he will take a broad look at the global economy…
Jomon revelations: what the prehistoric Japanese did for us
The people who lived in the Japanese archipelago in the millennia before the arrival of rice farming, long before the first historical records that refer to Japan were written, were among the first to experiment with a number of innovations that had a profound impact on the subsequent history of humanity. These include creating some…
Energy Security in the Middle East and North Africa
The security of energy supply remains the most important objective of current energy policy, and for this reason countries often work to reduce their reliance on energy imports. Any disruption of energy supplies as a result of political turmoil and/or terrorism in oil- or gas-producing nations can have serious economic, political and security implications for…
Post 3.11 – What Can Art Do? Case 2 – Documenting Tohoku
Post 3.11 is a series of talks with individuals who through art have in various ways been involved in supporting the victims of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in the Tohoku region of Japan. Showcasing their activities, this series aims to examine how the role of the artist and art activities can be vital in…
Artist Talk: Excavated Reverberations by Hiraku Suzuki
In Hiraku Suzuki’s practice, drawing is expanded from a primitive method of expression into a contemporary technique of reflection and transformation. Associating the act of drawing with the process of excavation,’ he reveals memories and ‘unknowns’ that lie dormant within our daily life. He perceives paper surfaces as excavation sites, carefully inscribing the moment when…
The Potential of the Japanese Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Market
Japan is a a major, technologically-sophisticated healthcare market, with a rapidly ageing population. At the same time, the country has a strong research base, with particular strengths in the application of electronics to medical and social needs. Its leading pharma companies, Astellas, Eisai and Takeda are cash rich, but are global also-rans behind the giant…
China and Regional Security: How Should Neighbouring Powers Respond?
China’s continuing enhancement of its international presence is a result both of the country’s growing economic and military strength and its perception of a weakened US. This is in contrast to Deng’s policy of keeping a low profile, and appears at odds with ongoing talk of harmony and peaceful development. Since 2008, China has been…
