Shizuoka City Mayor Nobuhiro Tanabe and a delegation from the city visited the UK in December for a variety of events and activities, including attending a joint Embassy of Japan and Japan Society Christmas party in the Ballroom of the Embassy, in advance of the 400 year anniversary of the death of Ieyasu Tokugawa in 2015, and kick off a year of related promotions of the City of Shizuoka as the final resting place of the founder of the Shogunate. Other events included a remembrance ceremony and workshops at SOAS, as well as a special event at the Tower of London commemorating the the departure of The Clove from Japan in 1613. The Head of the Tokugawa Family and 18th Direct Descendant of the great Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, Mr. Tokugawa Tsunenari, welcomed by Dr. Edward Impey, Director-General and Master of the Royal Armouries and presented with a commemorative coin authorised by Her Majesty The Queen. The presentation was made in front of the suit of armour sent to her ancestor, King James, by Ieyasu’s son, Shogun Tokugawa Hidetada, which left Japan on board The Clove.
The East India Company ship, The Clove, had been sent by King James with presents for the ruler of Japan, including the first telescope ever sent outside Europe. The suit of armour was one of the principal gifts sent in response and provoked great interest on its arrival. The Clove was the first British ship to reach Japan, and its Mission succeeded in opening diplomatic, trade, scientific and cultural relations between Britain and Japan, laying a first foundation for the excellent relations in all those fields today. The Clove left Japanese territorial waters on 6th December 1613.
One side of the commemorative coin, minted by the East India Company, shows King James, Tokugawa Ieyasu and The Clove. The obverse shows HM The Queen. A limited edition of 400 gold coins and 400 silver has been minted to mark the 400th Anniversary. The presentation was made by the Co-Chairmen of Japan400, Professor Timon Screech and Nicolas Maclean CMG, and by Ms Johanna Rowe, General Manager, The East India Company Bullion Division. The Mayor of Shizuoka, the Japanese city to which Tokugawa Ieyasu retired and where he met the British Missionwas also present, as well as other VIPs.
JLGC also played host to a presentation by Chris Heyes from Liverpool in London (the London office of Liverpool Vision), who talked to the group about Liverpool’s plans for the International Festival for Business 2014, billed as the biggest event of its kind in the UK since the Festival of Britain in 1951, and a truly global gathering of the world’s most inspiring businesses taking place in venues across the North West in June and July next year. Acting as an international showcase of great British industry, the Festival is a key part of the government’s ambition to promote economic growth, rebalance the economy and double UK exports by 2020. The 61-day expo of world-class events will bring £100 million of inward investment to the UK and 250,000 visitors to Liverpool.
JLGC would like to thank the Embassy of Japan, Japan Society, SOAS Japan 400 and Chris Heyes for their time and work to make a very successful visit to the UK for the delegation from Shizuoka City.
