Institute of Directors Japan Business Group to lead the City of London’s sole Trade Delegation to the Osaka Expo and Tokyo business mission
The Institute of Directors (IoD) Japan Business Group is proud to announce it will lead a 27-member strong delegation of senior business leaders to Japan from 7–11 July 2025, the only official delegation from the City of London attending the Osaka Expo 2025 and undertaking a strategic business mission to Osaka and Tokyo.
The delegation was officially launched at a ceremonial kick-off at the historic Guildhall in the City of London, bringing together an esteemed gathering of leaders committed to strengthening UK–Japan business ties. Notable guests included The Rt Hon. the Lord Mayor Alastair King, H.E. Hiroshi Suzuki, Ambassador of Japan to the UK, The Rt Hon. Sharon Hodgson MP, UK Trade Envoy to Japan, Lord Viscount Trenchard, Co-Chair of the Japan All-Party Parliamentary Group, Alderman Prem Goyal CBE, Minister (Economic) Kyoichiro Kawakami and senior officials from the Embassy of Japan in the UK and the Department for Business and Trade. GovUK.
The delegation is supported by a coalition of respected institutions including the City of London Corporation, Department for Business and Trade, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Osaka Prefectural Government, Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), and strategic partners: The Delphi Network, Baker McKenzie UK–Japan Connect, Japan National Tourism Organisation, and CitiBond Travels.
As part of the visit, delegates will meet with leaders at the Mitsubishi UFJ Innovation Centre, Osaka Innovation Hub, and government officials from Osaka Prefecture and the City of Osaka. They will explore Japan’s innovation culture at the Entrepreneurial Museum of Challenge and Innovation and financial transformation at Osaka International Financial City. Expo highlights at Yumeshima Island will include visits to the UK Pavilion, Mitsubishi, NTT, and Osaka Healthcare Pavilions, showcasing global breakthroughs in sustainability, health, and digital technologies. In Tokyo, delegates will take part in a roundtable with Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives) and hosted by the officials from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) focusing on bilateral cooperation, JStart-Up in the small and medium enterprise and services sectors. The mission will conclude with an official visit to the National Diet Building, where Japanese parliamentarians will host delegates.
“This mission represents a unique opportunity to deepen UK–Japan collaboration and connect our dynamic SMEs, innovators, and investors,” said Dr Indranil Nath, Chair of the IoD Japan Business Group. “By engaging with Expo 2025 Osaka and key Japanese institutions, we aim to foster long-term partnerships, drive mutual growth, and unlock new opportunities across AI, finance, healthcare, and sustainability, leveraging the power of CEPA and CPTPP.”
Japan, the world’s fourth-largest economy, is a key partner for the UK, with strong demand for cutting-edge services and technology. The UK is the second-largest global exporter of services, and Japan is its 14th-largest trading partner in services. The mission builds on the UK–Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and the CPTPP, both of which provide greater certainty, reduced barriers, and unprecedented access for UK businesses.
Delegation Members:
• Dr Indranil Nath, Chair, Japan Business Group, Institute of Directors, Non-Executive Director, AI+Partners B.V.
• Ms Rie Hamaguchi, Vice Chair, Japan Business Group, Institute of Directors, and Director, Property & Finance Group Ltd
• Lord Hugh Trenchard, Co-Chair, Japan All Party Parliamentary Group, House of Lords
• Alderman Prem Goyal CBE, Chairman of the Board, Greengage & Co. Ltd
• Mr Amit Sharma, Chief Representative, Fifth Third Bank Ltd
• Mr Antriksh Gautam, Senior Portfolio Manager, Fasanara Capital
• Mr Alex Queen, Chief Executive Officer, Queen & Co. Ltd
• Mr Christopher Beckford, Chief Executive Officer, Creativo Oclulus
• Mr Damon Johnstone, Managing Director, Statexe Ltd
• Mr James Heller, Partner, Baker & McKenzie LLP
• Mr Johnny Pawlick, Chief Executive Officer, Mantra Media Ltd
• Mr Keiran Miles, Commercial Director, Insight Financial Associates Ltd
• Mr Logan Gunasingham, Creative Events Director, REZtron Ltd
• Mr Mehmet Ulusoy, Executive Director, Adel & Angel Limited
• Ms Rosie Slatter, Director, The Delphi Network
• Dr Shuichi Terashima, Director and Chief Executive, TMC Worldnetwork Ltd
• Mr Stephen McCool, Managing Director, Orbital Industries Ltd
• Dr Yildiz Kara, Managing Director, Society 5.0 Institute Ltd
• Mr Thomas Hergenhahn, Managing Partner, Teilan Solutions Ltd
• Mr Guy-Edward Waterland, Chief Operating Officer, GetPlanD Ltd
• Mr Lawrence Kumazawa, Executive Director, Board Member, JOSEPH Ltd
• Mr Przemylaw Koger, Chief Executive Officer (Malta), & Managing Director, Alter Domus
• Mr Jack Horrobin, Executive, UK-Japan Connect, Baker & McKenzie LLP
• Mr David Syrad, Chief Executive Officer, Aki Limited (Japan)
• Mr Dominic Sharman, Partner, Baker & McKenzie LLP (Japan)
• Ms Madeleine Olausson, Director, Lena O Consulting Limited
• Mr Ichiro Tominaga, Chief Executive Officer and CIO, UBP Co. Ltd
For further information, visit www.iod.com or our SIG page.
