ABSTRACT
THIS IS NOT the place for a discussion of the reactions of British politicians in general to Japan. By the nature of their career in parliament it was inevitable that few British politicians have had more than a cursory knowledge of Japan, a country in which their duties precluded them from living. Large numbers of MPs from all the main parties did, however, visit Japan and a few managed to achieve more than a passing acquaintance with the country and its people. Two organizations are primarily responsible for this. They were, firstly, ‘The British-Japan Parliamentary Group’, founded and led for many years by Sir Julian Rids-dale, and the ‘UK-Japan 2000 Group’ set up in 1984 under the chairmanship on the UK side of Jim (later Lord) Prior. Both groups continue to work for better understanding between Britain and Japan. The 2000 group has, of course, had to change its name and is now the UK-Japan 21st Century Group. The UK chairman is currently David Howell (Lord Howell of Guildford). His predecessor who did much to develop the work of the group was Patrick Jenkin (Lord Jenkin of Roding).
