Courtesy call on Cllr Henry Gallagher, Lord Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne.
2026/7/8
On Wednesday 8th July 2026, Consul General Katsutoshi Takeda paid a courtesy call on Cllr Henry Gallagher, Lord Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne.
The relationship between Newcastle upon Tyne and Japan began in the late Edo period with the 1862 Japanese Mission to Europe and the subsequent industrial inspection by the Iwakura Mission in 1872. During the Meiji period, the Elswick Shipyard of Sir W.G. Armstrong manufactured major Japanese warships, including the cruiser Yoshino, thereby providing crucial support for the modernization of the Imperial Japanese Navy. In 1911, Admiral Heihachiro Togo, who led the Combined Fleet to victory in the Russo-Japanese War, officially visited the city, where he expressed his gratitude for the shipbuilding and received an exceptionally warm welcome. In the modern era, Newcastle serves as a key pillar of an international network, fostering a strong connection with Shinshiro City in Aichi Prefecture through the global alliance of Newcastles of the World. Active engagement continues today through this municipal cooperation framework as well as academic and cultural exchanges centered around Newcastle University, firmly preserving a bond that bridges their shared history and future.
Following these discussions, the parties exchanged views on regional Japanese business activities and historical ties, agreeing to strengthen their partnership further.
The relationship between Newcastle upon Tyne and Japan began in the late Edo period with the 1862 Japanese Mission to Europe and the subsequent industrial inspection by the Iwakura Mission in 1872. During the Meiji period, the Elswick Shipyard of Sir W.G. Armstrong manufactured major Japanese warships, including the cruiser Yoshino, thereby providing crucial support for the modernization of the Imperial Japanese Navy. In 1911, Admiral Heihachiro Togo, who led the Combined Fleet to victory in the Russo-Japanese War, officially visited the city, where he expressed his gratitude for the shipbuilding and received an exceptionally warm welcome. In the modern era, Newcastle serves as a key pillar of an international network, fostering a strong connection with Shinshiro City in Aichi Prefecture through the global alliance of Newcastles of the World. Active engagement continues today through this municipal cooperation framework as well as academic and cultural exchanges centered around Newcastle University, firmly preserving a bond that bridges their shared history and future.
Following these discussions, the parties exchanged views on regional Japanese business activities and historical ties, agreeing to strengthen their partnership further.