GREAT Week in Japan officially launches
UK Trade Minister Lord Livingston kicks off a week-long public showcase of British business and culture.
The 'Eikoku Shopping Week' London bus and MINI will be driving to and from key venues in Tokyo throughout GREAT Week in Japan.
British Embassy Tokyo and more than 80 participating British brands have teamed up to hold Japan’s first ever consumer-facing ‘Shopping is GREAT Britain’ campaign.
UK brands and retailers nationwide are taking part from 27 October to 4 November, including Isetan Mens in Shinjuku and Tokyo’s major shopping districts of Marunouchi, Ginza, Harajuku and Aoyama.
Cutting the ribbon from left to right: British Ambassador Tim Hitchens, Mr Peter Ackroyd of the Woolmark Company, UK Trade Minister Lord Livingston and Mr Jo Kato of Mitsubishi Estate Co Ltd.
GREAT Week in Japan was officially launched on Monday 27 October by UK Minister of State for Trade and Investment Lord Livingston at Marucube in Tokyo’s Marunouchi building. This will be the main venue for the week’s events.
Speaking at the launch, Lord Livingston said:
It is a pleasure to be here to formally launch GREAT Week in Japan, part of my government’s flagship campaign to promote British business and culture.
The campaign is not just about raising awareness of our national brand. It’s about helping British companies get their products and services into the hands of businesses and consumers worldwide.
Japanese consumers, rightly, demand both quality and value. Tokyo is truly a city of immense style. That is why, in addition to the British brands partnering with us this week, I am delighted to also bring with me 49 companies from the fashion, retail & luxury and food & drink sectors that embody what Japan wants and what, I believe, Britain is truly GREAT at.
Lord Livingston was joined by British Ambassador to Japan Tim Hitchens and representatives from partners Peter Ackroyd, Global Strategic Advisor for the Woolmark Company and Mr Jo Kato, Director & Executive Vice President, Mitsubishi Estate Co Ltd.
GREAT Week events
GREAT Week will involve a host of events open to the Japanese public. These include talk shows at Marucube and a major online campaign with giveaways and prizes available to Japanese consumers, such as flights to the UK. Watch our social media channels:
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/eikokushopping
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/eikokushopping
GREAT Week will host a series of business events including:
- UK companies showcasing their products and meeting potential partners in Japan
- launch of Japan UK Tech Awards inviting Japanese Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) to set themselves up in the UK
- publicising a landmark agreement between the British government and British Chamber of Commerce in Japan (BCCJ) promoting opportunities for British companies from the Rugby World Cup 2019 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics
Lord Livingston added:
To Japanese consumers, I encourage you to come here to the Marunouchi Building to hear the series of talk-shows planned for each evening this week - and to discover the wealth of great British products in stores and online.