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Superficial comparisons between the UK and the Japan inevitably include references to the monarchy and the Emperor system. Where once the lives of Britain’s royal family and Japan’s imperial family were shrouded in protocol or mystery, in recent years, media exposure has affected popular opinion and raised questions about the ongoing role and significance of this age-old institution. Different challenges face the monarchy in both countries but there is a shared interest in its future. This seminar will address such issues as continuity, succession and the handling of royal relations in a modern world.

Contributors:

A W Purdue recently retired as Reader in British History at the Open University where he is now Visiting Senior Lecturer in History. He is the author of a number of books and essays on Monarchy. They include: ‘Kings and Queens of Empire. British Monarchs 1760-2000’ (2000) with co-author J.M. Golby; ‘Long to Reign Over Us? The Survival of Monarchies in the Modern World’ (2005); ‘From the House of Hanover to the House of Windsor’ in ‘The Kings and Queens of England’, W.M Ormrod (ed.), (2001); and ‘Queen Adelaide’ in ‘Queenship in Britain’, Clarissa Campbell Orr (ed.), (2002).

Eiji Seki was a member of the Japan’s Foreign Service from 1953 to 1992. He served as Ambassador to Zambia (1981-83) and Minister in London (1984-86). After retiring as Ambassador to Hungary (1989-92), he devoted himself to the study of Japan’s modern history and Anglo-Japanese relations. In 2006, Mr Seki’s book ‘Mrs Ferguson’s Tea-set, Japan and the Second World War: The Global Consequences Following Germany’s Sinking of the SS Automedon in 1940’ was published by Global Oriental.

Sir Hugh Cortazzi (chair) is a former British ambassador to Japan. Sir Hugh joined HM Diplomatic Service in 1949 and in a distinguished career undertook postings in, amongst others, Singapore, Bonn and Washington. He was posted to Japan four times, the final time as Ambassador (1980-84). Sir Hugh has written extensively about Japan both in English and Japanese.