UK agrees cultural and economic partnership with Japan

A new UK-Japan cultural and economic partnership announced at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka will create “even more opportunities” for UK businesses, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has said.

The Musubi Initiative – named after the Japanese word for ‘connection’ – aims to attract private funding to programmes including cultural exchanges, youth scholarships, sport, science and opportunities for women in business.

The first group of Musubi ‘pioneer partners’, who will deliver the initiative, includes Liverpool Football Club International Academy and University College London.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “I am delighted that we have deepened our relationship with Japan further through this new Musubi Initiative, which will create even more opportunities for businesses in both the UK and Japan now and in the future.”

Japan is currently the UK’s sixth largest investor. The country’s investment into the UK has roughly doubled over the last decade, with nearly 1,000 Japanese companies sustaining 200,000 UK jobs.

UK exports minister Gareth Thomas added: “The UK and Japan enjoy a dynamic and enduring trading relationship, with £86bn in investment to the UK economy.



“Initiatives like the Musubi Initiative and Expo 2025 are helping to strengthen our ties with key economic partners, creating new opportunities for businesses and deepening people-to-people connections across the world.”