Japan remains a manufacturing nation with industrial production at all scales from large to small, with a deep culturally rooted hunger for creative design.

Consumers are highly sophisticated and appreciate the originality/edge of contemporary British work – and are prepared to pay more for items that are distinctive.

Japan’s business ministry, METI, has an ongoing programme of financial support to small and medium-size domestic firms (3.15bn Yen as of 2013) to assist in strategic planning, brand establishment and product development.

Already, 313 cases have been successfully supported linked to overseas designers/design input.