'We back Brexit Britain!' Japanese advisor hails 'strategically important' relationship
A JAPANESE business chief has thrown his weight behind Brexit Britain saying Japan will do “the best it can” when the UK leaves the European Union.
Japanese business chief: Country will do "best it can" to back UK
Yuichiro Nakajima, of Crimson Phoenix, said the country would be there to support the UK Government as it cuts ties with the Brussels bloc.
Mr Nakajima, managing partner at the cross-border advisory firm, which has offices in Japan and the UK, highlighted the “very good” UK-Japanese relationship.
Speaking on BBC News, he said: “Well I think because the UK-Japanese relationship is very good and strategically quite important, so I think Japan would like to do the best it can to support the UK Government.”
The business chief’s comments come as the Japanese Prime Minister’s adviser Tomohiko Taniguchi snubbed the European Union saying they will look to trade with Brexit Britain first despite negotiations or a deal with the Brussels bloc.
Yuichiro Nakajima said Japan would back Brexit Britain
Japan would like to do the best it can to support the UK Government
Mr Taniguchi, special adviser to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, said Britain had stronger ties to Japan.
Theresa May is flying into Japan today for three days of crucial trade and security talks with political and business leaders.
Speaking on the Today programme on BBC Radio 4, Mr Taniguchi said the Japanese had a “preference” for Britain.
Asked if Japan would focus on its recently agreed trade deal with the EU over business with Brexit Britain, he replied: “Britain has always cut a special niche for Japan.
“There is an inherent preference among Japanese people, Japanese industrialists, to doing business wherever possible in the United Kingdom.”
Mr Taniguchi added Mrs May’s trip would give a “powerful signal” to the world that the two nations can “make a difference together”.
He said: “She is going to make a giant stride forward.
“Prime Minister May, Prime Minister Abe are going to give a very powerful signal to the rest of the world that two island seafaring, democratic nations are making sure once again that there is ample room for both nations to make a difference together.”