Manchester’s Big Leap to Japan: A Blend of Business, Culture & Iron‑Man‑Level Investment
Picture this: a whole city‑region in the UK, bustling with traders and techies, flying across the world to Japan for a week‑long trade jamboree. No, it’s not a scene from a Marvel film – it’s real, and it’s happening right now in the electric cities of Tokyo and Osaka.
Why If the City of Greater Manchester, the UK, is Going Hollywood‑Style to Japan
- Open the doors for trade and tech collaboration.
- Celebrate cultural ties and the push towards net‑zero.
- Build those crucial people‑to‑people relationships that translate into real, job‑creating investment.
Meet the Perks: The Mega £17 Million Deal by Mizkan
Mizkan is a food giant that knows how to make vinegar that tastes like a throwback to Sarson’s and the sharp tang of Japanese jars. They’ve just confirmed a £17 million injection into their Middleton factory. The money will be funneled into:
- Upskilling staff – because skill is the new growth stock.
- Expanding and sprucing up the existing plant.
- R&D for new, premium vinegar flavors that might someday taste like a dial-up internet meme.
Marking Historic Firsts
The Greater Manchester delegation isn’t a small coffee‑shop trip; it’s one of the biggest ever the UK has sent to Japan. The leadership crew includes:
- Andy Burnham – Mayor of Greater Manchester.
- Clara Bev Craig – Economy Lead and Council Leader.
- Representatives from the Department for Business and Trade, Manchester’s Inward Investment Agency (MIDAS), and the university powerhouses University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University.
- Key figures from Manchester Airport, Co‑operatives UK, and Electricity North West.
Other Big Names on the Board
The mission also rosters companies like Daikin, Panasonic, Deloitte and even the famed cultural institution The Hallé. No pinky‑fight here – it’s a full‑blown, multi‑sector collaboration.
From Tokyo to Osaka – The Asia Road
After the group landed in Tokyo, the grand step is to push straight to Osaka, gearing up for EXPO 2025 – the biggest global showcase of the decade.
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Agreement that started in December 2023, signing a partnership between Greater Manchester and Osaka.
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Planning a dedicated “Manchester Day” at the UK Pavilion on Thursday 19 June.
Words From the Leaders
Mayor Andy Burnham put it very nicely:
“EXPO 2025 will focus the world’s gaze on Osaka, and our partnership gives you a rare shot to put Manchester in a global spotlight. This huge investment by Mizkan, global partners like Daikin and Panasonic, and our new ties to Japan lay the ground for fresh jobs, prosperity across Greater Manchester…”
And Mizkan’s UK chief Chikara Tanaka shared, “We’re thrilled to invest in the future of our flagship Middleton factory. This is all about people and technology to grow premium, Japanese‑style vinegars.”
Why Japan? Because It’s Great, Baby!
- Greater Manchester had 25 Japanese companies in the region, including Daikin, Astemo.
- Export figures: £99 million in goods and £151 million in services to Japan in 2021–2022.
- Japan is a top 10 investor in the UK, driving over 1,200 jobs domestically.
- Press the steps on the Tokyo side: a reception at the British Embassy, hosted by Mayor Burnham and Clara Bev Craig, with Julia Longbottom CMG as the UK Ambassador.
- Networking with Daikin, Panasonic, and other giants to accelerate net‑zero schemes and low‑carbon tech.
- Osaka side reception by Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama – a full political/Koln dinner.
- Co‑planned by From The Other, DJ AFRODEUTSCHE, the dance company Company Chameleon, and Belladonis.
- Includes a live string ensemble from the world‑renowned Hallé orchestra.
Learning from Singapore – A One‑of‑A‑Kind Open‑Government State
Before heading to Japan, the delegation spent three days in Singapore, “the world’s only modern city‑state.” The tiny but mighty nation’s crisp, digital approach to development offered a blueprint for Manchester’s own growth agenda.
Meetups in Japan – Conversations That Matter
MANCHESTER DAY at EXPO 2025 – ‘BLOOM’ and Beyond
On the 19th, the UK Pavilion will host a dazzling cultural showcase called BLOOM, celebrating Manchester’s creative spirit and its Japanese ties:
A Story of Wins, Workforce Upskilling, and Forward‑Thinking!
All in all, this mission is a free‑form launchpad for future trade, a lover’s tryst between cultures, and an investment story that will keep the Greater Manchester folks hopping for jobs, technology, and a little bit of good old Japanese flavor.
