Sir Francis Ottiwell Adams (1826-89) was Secretary of the Legation in Edo from 1868 to 1872. This essay shows how his career in the legation was an important one in the history of modern Japan, having occurred at a time of much social upheaval.

This portrait considers the most significant of Crown Prince Akihito's several visits to Britain, made during the Coronation of Elizabeth II.

A reassessment of the career of Sir Rutherford Alcock (1809-1897), the first British Minister to Japan from 1859-64.

A reassessment of the career of Sir Rutherford Alcock (1809-1897), the first British Minister to Japan from 1859-64.

This article details Sir Rutherford Alcock's (1809-1897) return to Japan in 1867 and, in particualar, his actions taken with regard to the Shimonoseki Straits.

Even though John Batchelor (1855-1945) was not an expert in linguistics, ethnology or folklore, his contributions to the understanding of the Ainu people is nonetheless significant. This essay details his missionary career and a life devoted to the Ainu people.

Thomas Wright Blakiston (1832-91), explorer, engineer and ornithologist, is best known for his discovery of 'Blackiston's Line' a zoogeographical boundary along the Tsugaru Strait.

A list of post-war British Ambassadors to Japan with commentary by Hugh Cortazzi.

An in-depth account of the build-up to and consequences of the British bombardment of Kagoshima, following the attack on three British by Satsuma retainers near Yokohama.

As air services developed and Japan become more accessible, the number of visitors from Britain increased. One of these early visitors was composer Benjamin Britten.

Eric Ceadel was lecturer in Japanese at the University of Cambridge, and visited Japan in 1950 to buy books for the University Library.

Kazuo Chiba (1925-2004), who has been an outstanding personality in UK-Japan relations. He was unusually frank and outspoken for a Japanese diplomat, however, he has been given relevant roles during his career, including: posts in Tehran, Washington and Moscow and head of the Japanese delegation to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT, predecessor of the World Trade Organisation, WTO). Later in his career he has been one of the most prominent Japanese ambassadors in the UK. 

Art historian and critic Kenneth Clark visited Japan in 1963, giving him the opportunity to indulge his love of Japanese art.

This essay uses the tragic death of Melville James Cox (1885-1940) in Tokyo to assess the misconduct of the Kempeitai in arresting British citizens during the Second World War.

As a prisoner of war, Peter Dean was one of the first westerners to experience Japan after the surrender.

Charles Dunn (1915-1995) was one of the scholars responsible for the expansion of Japanese studies after the Second World War. This essay details his career as a scholar and dealings with the Japanese language.

This essay provides an account of the life and career of Sir John Figgess (1909-97), businessman, intelligence officer, diplomat and art expert.

Hugh Fraser (1837-1894) presided over one of the most significant developments in Western relations with Japan, the replacement of the 'unequal' treaties originally signed in 1858. This essay surveys his involvement with the Japanese political scene.

Hugh Fraser (1837-1894) presided over one of the most significant developments in Western relations with Japan, the replacement of the 'unequal' treaty originally signed in 1858. This essay surveys his involvement with the Japanese political scene.

Portrait painter Hara Bushō (1866-1912) spent three years studying art in London where he became involved with other important Japanese artists and immersed himself in Western art. This portait provides an account of his artistic career and time in Lodnon.

Edward Heath (1916-2005) was the first British Prime Minister to make an official visit to Japan. This essay details Heath's 1972 visit and its aftermath.

This essay provides an account and analysis of The Shōwa Emperor's (Hirohito's) visit to Britain in 1970. It marked the first Japanese state visit to Britian, as well as the first time a Japanese emperor had ever made a visit abroad.

This essay provides an account of Honda Sōichirō's (1906-1991) life, personality, and business relationship with Britain.

Hugh Cortazzi's Introduction to Biographical Portraits Volume IV.

Hugh Cortazzi's Introduction to Biographical Portraits Volume V.

Hugh Cortazzi's Introduction to Biographical Portraits Volume VI.

Hugh Cortazzi's Introduction to Biographical Portraits Volume VII.

Hugh Cortazzi's Introduction to Biographical Portraits Volume VIII.

This chapter puts the individual accounts included within Japan Experiences into the context of Anglo-Japanese post-war relations.

This volume was published on the occasion of the centenary of the Japan Society, and in this chapter Sir Hugh Cortazzi chronicles its hundred year history, from its founding at the 1891 Congress of Orientalists, via the two world wars and a number of royal visits, through to the 1991 Japan Festival and an assessment of the Society's then challenging state of affairs.

Detailing the various Japanese envoys sent to Britain during the ten year period of 1862-72, including the Bakufu mission and several prominent figures.

Sir Daniel Lascelles (1902-1967) was an unlikely appointment as British ambassador to Japan having no connections or knowledge of the Japanse language, culture or people. This profile details his ineffectual time as ambassador. 

This essay considers the friendship between Bernard Leach and Yanagi Sōetsu (1889-1961), as well as their relationship to the Minegi movement.

Morita Akio (1921-99) was one of the main driving forces behind the Sony Corporation. This essay details his career, personality, and business philosophy, as well as his relationship with Britain.

Vice Admiral Sir A. Kuper's report on the action from his flagship HMS Euryalus in the Straits of Shimonoseki on 15 September 1864.

Detailing Lt Colonel Edward St John Neale's (1812-1866) time in charge of the British Legation in Japan during Sir Rutherford Alcock's time of leave. This article appraises Neale's actions in response to the Namamugi incident, the second Tōzenji incident and the bombardment of Kagoshima during a turbulent time in Anglo-Japanese affairs. 

Shijuro Ogata (1927-2014) was an internationalist Japanese banker who started working for the Bank of Japan in 1950. He has been credited with the opening up of the Bank of Japan to Western media, in particular British ones. Moreover, he has been very active in the UK through the Japan-British Society and the Wakatakekai (Young Bamboos Society). 

Businessman Sir Peter Parker (1924-2002) made an outstanding contribution to Anglo-Japanese relations in the final decades of the twentieth century. This essay offers an account and analysis of his career and impact in relation to Japan.

This portrait reflects on the diplomatic career of Sir Harry Parkes (1828-1885) from 1865 to 1883, a period of unprecedented revolutionary change, assessing both his personal characteristics and his diplomatic achievements.

This portrait reflects on the diplomatic career of Sir Harry Parkes (1828-1885) from 1865 to 1883, a period of unprecedented revolutionary change.

This essay describes how Sir John Pilcher (1912-1990), as British ambassador in Japan between 1967 and 1972, helped to revive Anglo-Japanese friendship after the Second World War and was long remembered with affection both in Japan and by his friends and colleagues.

This essay describes how Sir John Pilcher (1912-90), as British ambassador in Japan between 1967 and 1972, helped to revive Anglo-Japanese friendship after the Second World War and was long remembered with affection both in Japan and by his friends and colleagues.

This portrait considers the diplomatic career of Sir Francis Plunkett (1835-1907), British Minister at Tokyo from 1884-87, particularly in relation to the attempted revision of the 'unequal treaties'.

This portrait considers the diplomatic career of Sir Francis Plunkett (1835-1907), British Minister at Tokyo from 1884-87, particularly in relation to the attempted revision of the 'unequal treaties'.

This essay uses the loss of HMS Rattler off Cape Soya (Hokkaido) to underline the inadequacy of Admiralty charts of Japanese coastal waters and the difficulty of maneuvering wooden ships in adverse weather conditions. It also displays the willingness of the Japanese to assist the stricken sailors.

Vere Redman (1901-1975) worked, throughout his career as a journalist, press attaché, and in the British Ministry of Information, to contribute to understanding between British and Japanese. This essay recounts his journalistic efforts as they relate to Anglo-Japanese relations.

Sir Edward James Reed (1830-1906) was a leading naval architect who built ships for the Japanese Imperial Navy in the Meiji period and became an advocate for treaty revision, clashing with Sir Harry Parkes. This essay details his illustrious but flawed career and role in Anglo-Japanese relations.

This essay is an attempt to describe the highlights and significance of British royal visits to Japan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Concerning Sir Francis Rundall's (1908-1987) time as ambassador to Japan overseeing the confrontation between Indonesia and Malaysia in 1963, the Olympic games in 1964 and the British Exhibition at Harumi in 1965.

Saba Shōichi (1919-2012) was one of the pioneers of post-war Japanese manufacturing. Specialised in electrical engineering, he was appointed president of Toshiba in 1980 and increased ties with the UK by, among other things, developing programmes for foreign engineers to work and study in Japan and by sponsoring the Toshiba Gallery of Japanese Art at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Hugh Cortazzi recounts two meetings with author Shiba Ryōtarō, best known for his novels about historical events in Japan and on the Northeast Asian sub-continent.

This portrait details how Douglas Sladen's (1856-1947) writings did much to popularize Japan among British readers in the early years of the twentieth century.

Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013) played a significant role in promoting Japanese manufacturing investment in Britain and opening up the Japanese markets, and ensured that Britain was no longer seen as suffering from what the Japanese called eikokubyō (the English disease).

This portrait provides an account of the interest of Ye Sette of Odd Volumes' interest in and promotion of things Japanese within their society.

This essay discusses The Times' coverage of events in Japan during the nineteenth century.

Tomimoto Kenkichi (1886-1963) was one of Japan's leading artists of the twentieth century. This portrait examines both his skill with ceramics and friendship with the great British potter Bernard Leach.

This article considers the very short period that Power Henry Le Poer Trench (1841-99) served as British Minister to Japan before his appointment was cut short by ill health. 

Sir John Whitehead acted as British ambassador in Japan from 1987 to 1992. Whitehead played an important part in deepening UK-Japan economic ties by actively promoting trade and investment between the two nations.

Ariyoshi Yoshiya (1901-82) was known as 'the grand old man of Japanese shipping'. This portrait focuses on his character and his love of both Britain and Japanese cultural traditions.

Shortly before his resignation as Prime Minister in 1954 Yoshida Shigeru visited Britain. This essay examines the political controversy surrounding Yoshida's visit, as well as the visit itself and an assessment of its success.

This book forms part of a series recording the lives of men, women and institutions who have played a significant role in the development of UK-Japan relations. The current volume, which contains 34 ‘portraits', is structured thematically in six parts – Diplomats; Businessmen; Engineers & Teachers in Meiji Japan; Scholars & Writers; Photographers, Judo Masters & Journalists; and An Aviator & Two Themes .

This book forms part of a series recording the lives of men, women and institutions who have played a significant role in the development of UK-Japan relations. The current volume, which contains 57 ‘portraits’, contributes further to the Japan Society’s collection of individual memoirs. When read together these give a many-faceted picture of modern history, shedding light on controversial issues, illuminating past successes and failures, and providing a valuable point of reference for researchers and historians. It is structured thematically in four parts – Japan in Britain; Britain in Japan; Scholars and Writers; and  Politicians and Officials.

This book forms part of a series recording the lives of men, women and institutions who have played a significant role in the development of UK-Japan relations. Volume V, which contains 43 ‘portraits’, is structured thematically in six parts – Japan Society and Imperial Personalities; Politicians and Diplomats; Naval Officers; Businessmen; Poets, Scholars and Journalists; and Long-term Residents in Japan, Judo Pioneers and a Philanthropist.

This book forms part of a series recording the lives of men, women and institutions who have played a significant role in the development of UK-Japan relations. The current volume, which contains 34 ‘portraits', contributes further to the Japan Society's collection of individual memoirs. It is structured thematically in six parts – Politicians; Royal Matters; Business Figures; Literary Figures; Art Collectors, an Archaeologist and an Artist; A Journalist, a Teacher, and Three Scholars; and Envoi.

This book forms part of a series recording the lives of men, women and institutions who have played a significant role in the development of UK-Japan relations. The current volume, which contains 47 ‘portraits’, contributes further to the Japan Society’s collection of individual memoirs. It is structured thematically in ten parts – Meiji Era Leaders; British Politicians; British Officials; Scholars, Writers and Journalists; Scientists; Missionaries; Art; Recreations; Charitable Work; and A Memoir.

This book forms part of a series recording the lives of men, women and institutions who have played a significant role in the development of UK-Japan relations. The current volume, which contains 52 ‘portraits’, contributes further to the Japan Society’s collection of individual memoirs. When read together these give a many-faceted picture of modern history, shedding light on controversial issues, illuminating past successes and failures, and providing a valuable point of reference for researchers and historians. It is structured thematically in seven parts – Politicians and Officials; Lawyers; Artists, Art Collectors and Art Dealers; Potters and Garden Designers; Writers; Music, Sport, Film and Media; Scholars and Other Notable Individuals.

This book forms part of a series recording the lives of men, women and institutions who have played a significant role in the development of UK-Japan relations. The current volume, which contains 69 ‘portraits’, contributes further to the Japan Society’s collection of individual memoirs. When read together these give a many-faceted picture of modern history, shedding light on controversial issues, illuminating past successes and failures, and providing a valuable point of reference for researchers and historians. It is structured thematically in two parts – Britain in Japan; Japan in Britain.