Though our countries may be situated on opposite sides of the globe, Great Britain and Japan have much more in common than separates them. We are both democracies with a constitutional monarchy. We share a mutual respect for history, for tradition and for the values we have inherited as peoples. In the eyes of the rest of the world, we even drive on the “wrong” side of the road!

Above all, we are both island peoples. This fact endows our peoples with a native toughness and inspires us with a spirit of adventure, a robust courage and an independence of mind. This has given both our peoples a great maritime tradition and made us great the two greatest trading nations on earth. To a large degree we view the world with the same perspective and are both key allies of the United States.

Japan and Great Britain both find themselves the offshore appendages of the great Eurasian landmass and though, like you, we seek to have cordial and friendly relations with our neighbours, we are nonetheless distinct. Though we are loyal members of the European Union, we have no desire to be subsumed into a United Europe and to take our orders from Brussels. This is something that certain captains of Japanese industry should bear in mind, before telling us we should abandon the Pound Sterling and with it our national independence!