Fellows and friends gathered in the Great Room at RSA House to celebrate the opening of the UK Pavilion at Expo 2025 and hear from an expert panel on the importance of the creative industries to both the UK and Japan.
More than a million people have visited the UK Pavilion at Osaka Expo 2025 in the two weeks since it opened, according to the Economic Minister from Japan’s Embassy in the UK.
Speaking at the ‘Come build the future’ Expo 2025 event, Kyoichiro Kawakami said that the Pavilion had already become a “beacon for visitors from Japan and across the globe”. The Pavilion, which opened on 13 April, showcases the UK as a place of opportunity and collaboration and serves as a hub of creativity and innovation.
“The UK holds a special place in the hearts of many Japanese people,” the minister said. “People in Japan see the UK as stylish, sophisticated, and elegant, and they widely regard British products for their quality and excellence.”
He suggested that just as people have described the UK as ‘Cool Britannia’ for its popular music, art, and literature, the term ‘Cool Japan’ is equally fitting. Japanese culture – including Kabuki theatre, manga comics and J-pop – is distinct from UK culture, but the differences provide opportunities to unite.
“So it is my sincere hope that today’s event is one such opportunity for continuing the collaboration between our two countries in the arts and creative industries.”
RSA Chair Sir Loyd Grossman introduced the ‘Come build the future’ event and reminded attendees of the RSA’s pioneering role in creating the first World Expo – the Great Exhibition of 1851.
“That extraordinary event showcased the UK’s industrial and artistic achievements on a world stage – and was animated by a spirit of optimism, collaboration and confidence in the power of ideas to improve lives. A spirit that continues to guide the RSA’s mission today,” he said.
A panel discussion followed, facilitated by Nina Nannar, Arts Editor at ITV News. Panel members comprised: Sir Peter Bazalgette, Co-Chair of the Creative Industries Council; YolanDa Brown, Chair of the British Phonographic Industry (BPI); Dai Fujikura, a London-based and Osaka-born composer; Indy Johar, Founder of Dark Matter Labs; and Liana O’Cleirigh, an interaction designer who studied in Japan.
Bazalgette highlighted the importance of the creative industries to the UK, representing 6% of the economy and 17% of British exports. He described the current international trade wars as the ‘Trump Tariff Terror’, but said they provided an upside for the services sector.
“In arguments about international trade, they focus obsessively on physical goods but refuse to impose tariffs on services. So, the current ‘terror’ is a fantastic opportunity for the creative industries – both of Britain and Japan,” he said.
Brown, a saxophonist, composer, and BPI chair, highlighted the importance of Britain’s music industry – from the Beatles in the 1960s to Stormzy, Adele, and today’s classical musicians. Music “transcends borders” she suggested, and “exports our culture without having to say anything or put a label on it”.
She reflected on the opening words from the minister. “When we go to a wonderful country like Japan and we hear the UK is ‘sophistication’, is ‘elegance’, it is. But there is so much more – there is grittiness, there is determination. So many migrants have come and created a world here that is now labelled ‘British’.”
Both Brown and Fujikura emphasised the power of collaboration and shared learning between the UK and Japan. Fujikura said that the creation of any form of music inevitably involved some form of collaboration.
“But not collaboration between one side and the other. Collaboration means we have to make one sound on stage in front of people. In my opinion, that is the best way to collaborate – if everybody collaborated, there would be world peace.”
Johar praised Japan for carrying out “brilliant work” on Society 5.0 – its project to create a ‘super-smart society’ using advanced technology to build a sustainable and inclusive socio-economic system.
“I think Japan and the UK coming together is really important, both at a geopolitical level, but also as two major island nations which have a significant impact. There are relationships to be built that go deep into the cultural conversation, where both parties can systematically learn and create radical new futures that are prerequisites for every other transformation.”
O’Cleirigh used her experience of studying in Japan to advocate for greater long-term thinking and “designing for optimism”. Design projects are often short-term, requiring an immediate solution to an immediate problem, she suggested. But the approach in Japan often involved a more “blue sky”, longer-term approach.
“I found that challenging at the start, but it can be quite freeing to design for opportunity. It opens up your time horizons, and you have the freedom to throw out quite bold ideas. Designing for optimism can be pretty radical.”
The ‘Come build the future’ event was the first in a series organised as part of the RSA’s partnership with the UK Government for Expo 2025. Three more Expo 2025 events are due to take place later this year, examining gender equity and justice, the future of sustainability and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Book now to secure your tickets for the next RSA Expo 2025 event.
@thersaorg At our kickoff #Expo2025 event, chair of BPI, YolanDa Brown shared her pov on how we can support the next generation of talent to expand their reach and showcase British culture globally. #nonprofitsoftiktok #osaka #londonevents
♬ original sound – theRSAorg
