Past Events

The Impact of Donald Trump's Tariffs on the Japanese Economy

Donald Trump’s tariff policies have been designed to bring manufacturing back to the United States and protect American jobs. Although the practical results in the US have been mixed so far, retaliation from trading partners such as China and the EU has hit US agriculture especially hard. The impact of tariffs and policy uncertainty has also been significant globally, including in Japan, affecting regions and industries in different ways, with some companies tending to benefit, but others getting left behind. In this webinar, moderated by Professor Hugh Whittaker, Dr Daisuke Adachi talked about the impact of the tariffs; potential trends; related challenges; and lessons for Japan.

The Housing Crisis in the UK and Japan

Rising housing costs have become a prevalent issue in many high-income countries, contributing to financial insecurity and social unrest. Whilst the UK presents one of the more extreme examples of this trend, Japan’s house prices have tended to remain low in comparison to other high-income nations. Nevertheless, this tendency no longer seems certain, especially in popular metropolitan areas such as Tokyo. In this webinar, Professor Jiro Yoshida unpacked the unique characteristics of Japan’s housing market whilst Dr Filipa Sá demonstrated how foreign investment has contributed to rising house prices in the UK.

Memories of War

This year marks 80 years since the end of World War II, which had devastating consequences for people in many countries. Despite this historical event providing many lessons, the world is once again experiencing a surge of conflict and war, with millions of individuals suffering. Often, individual and collective memories are not passed on, and may be forgotten. In this webinar, various panellists with different backgrounds will discuss how to pass on the memory of wartime tragedies to future generations.

Japan’s Security Policy in a New Era of Geopolitical Tensions

In the context of increasing global tension, the world has been experiencing a surge of conflict. Wars continue to rage in Ukraine and Gaza, while tensions in East Asia remain high. Where should Japan’s foreign and security policy be headed, at a time when the international order is being profoundly shaken by the United States, the now avowedly illiberal leader of the ‘free world’? In this webinar, Professor Nakano discussed recent security-related legislation, the expanding role of the Self-Defense Forces, the implications for Japan’s peace constitution as well as the principle of constitutionalism, and the effects of emerging right-wing populist political parties on political decision-making. He also shared recommendations for maintaining peace in East Asia at a time of flux and uncertainty.

Gallery Tour:
ひろしま/hiroshima

To mark the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing, this exhibition, comprising work by three acclaimed Japanese women artists, shifts its gaze to another side of the city and its people – the changes, the things that remain, personal and genuine memories, as well as the everyday, the ordinary and contemporary society. This exhibition encourages us to see Hiroshima differently, as a city that was once traumatised but is now teeming with life. This exhibition features multiple different series of artworks: ひろしま/hiroshima by Ishiuchi Miyako, Here Goes River by Fujioka Aya and PARK CITY by Sasaoka Keiko.

Celebrating the Flora of Japan

Japan’s landscapes are as diverse as they are beautiful – from Hokkaido’s alpine meadows to the subtropical forests of Okinawa. This variety of habitats supports an extraordinary range of plants, with a quarter found nowhere else on Earth. In this talk, Ben Jones, Arboretum Curator at the University of Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum, shared stories and discoveries from over a decade of botanical fieldwork in Japan. Blending science, conservation and cultural heritage, this presentation celebrated Japan’s unique plant life and highlights why protecting it matters for both nature and people, at home and around the world.

Populism in the UK and Japan: Elections, Immigration and Economic Insecurity

Political populism is on the rise globally, driven by factors including social inequality, economic insecurity and immigration. This trend is also evident in the UK and Japan, as reflected in recent elections and the current political landscape in both countries. In this webinar, Associate Professor Naoko Hashimoto discussed the politicisation of immigration in Japan, based on the experience of the July 2025 House of Councillors election, which featured a ‘Japanese First’ campaign launched by a few minor and relatively new political parties, as well as some apparently deliberate use of misinformation. Professor Jane Green addressed the realignment of the British electorate and the fragmentation of the right, exploring how Reform may overtake Labour in numerous constituencies and examining the underlying social factors.

Gallery Tour:
ひろしま/hiroshima

To mark the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing, this exhibition, comprising work by three acclaimed Japanese women artists, shifts its gaze to another side of the city and its people – the changes, the things that remain, personal and genuine memories, as well as the everyday, the ordinary and contemporary society. This exhibition encourages us to see Hiroshima differently, as a city that was once traumatised but is now teeming with life. This exhibition features multiple different series of artworks: ひろしま/hiroshima by Ishiuchi Miyako, Here Goes River by Fujioka Aya and PARK CITY by Sasaoka Keiko.

Peacetime Anglo–Japanese Military Relations: Old Friends, New Partners

For over a decade, Japan and the UK have identified one another as their most important security partners in Asia and Europe respectively. The two countries currently enjoy a high in bilateral military partnership that has been referred to as a ‘quasi alliance’. Looking back, however, there have been ups and downs since the days of the bilateral alliance over a century ago. We joined the authors of a new book that explores how peacetime military relations between Japan and the UK have played out from Bakumatsu to Brexit.

Refugee Rescues and Humanitarian Acts during WWII

In this seminar, Professor Inaba of Meijo University talked about the Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara (1900–1986), focusing on his humanitarian efforts to save Jewish refugees by issuing them transit visas to Japan during World War II, despite orders from his government not to do so. In the summer of 1940, Sugihara issued a large number of so-called ‘Visas for Life’ for Jewish refugees, most of whom had fled Poland after its occupation by the Third Reich and the USSR. In the end, with the support of several diplomats from other countries, he rescued approximately 6,000 people from the Holocaust.

Artist Talk by Ishiuchi Miyako

To mark the opening of the exhibition, ‘ひろしま/hiroshima’, at the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, we are delighted to host an artist talk by Ishiuchi Miyako, one of Japan’s most prominent post-war photographers. Ishiuchi will be in conversation with Jonathan Watkins, discussing her artistic practice and the photography she has produced over the years, with a particular focus on the series ‘ひろしま/hiroshima’, which breathes new life into personal belongings, reviving the individual memories of those who once lived in Hiroshima.

Private View:
ひろしま/hiroshima

Join us for a private view of the group exhibition, ひろしま/hiroshima. To mark the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing, this exhibition of work by three acclaimed Japanese women artists shifts its gaze to another side of the city and its people – the changes, the things that remain, the personal and genuine memories – the everyday, the ordinary and contemporary society. This exhibition encourages us to see Hiroshima differently, as a city that was traumatised, once again teeming with life.

The doors will open at 5:00 pm. Guests who have booked in advance are welcome to visit the gallery any time between 5:00 pm and 7:45 pm.