Celebrating Wales-Japan Cooperation at the Embassy of Japan

SSi was invited to a reception at the Embassy of Japan for a celebration of the deepening ties between Wales and Japan — a midpoint marker in the year of Wales/Japan collaboration.

Held in the heart of London, at the Embassy of Japan, the event brought together leaders and innovators from both nations, from diverse sectors such as culture, education, sport and business.

The reception opened with remarks from two distinguished guests: the Welsh First Minister, Eluned Morgan, and the Japanese Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Hiroshi Suzuki. Both spoke with sincerity and vision, reflecting on the achievements so far and the mutual respect that continues to grow between Wales and Japan.

From student exchanges to cultural showcases, from renewable energy projects to creative industries, their speeches acknowledged the remarkable progress made — and the even more exciting opportunities on the horizon, such as the launch of the SSi spoken English module for Japanese speakers’.

A real highlight was a performance by the acclaimed Welsh choir Only Boys Aloud, who captivated the room with a stirring set that culminated in a heartfelt rendition of Calon Lân. The performance earned a well-deserved standing ovation.

Adding a touch of fun, guests got to meet Myaku-Myaku, the colourful and quirky mascot of Expo 2025 in Osaka. Aran dragged Nick onto the stage to get a selfie!

SSi are one of 20 Welsh companies taking part in the upcoming Welsh Trade Mission to Japan later this month as we seek local partners to jointly market and develop the new spoken English module.

Written by Nick Prichard