Hugely popular Japanese ambassador looks forward to ‘exciting prospects’ of West Midlands trade links

Hiroshi Suzuki – along with Paddington Bear – made his first trip to the West Midlands

Internet sensation Hiroshi Suzuki said there are ‘exciting prospects’ for trade between his native Japan and the West Midlands in the future.

The popular Japanese ambassador to the UK has lit up social media with his enthusiasm for British culture and this continued with a two day trip to the region, which included visits to Birmingham City FC and the Black Country Museum.

He met with West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker as well as representatives from a host of Japanese businesses and cultural organisations during the trip aimed at fostering enhanced trade relations.

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But he, along with his trusty Paddington Bear who often accompanies him, also got to sample the delights of the Museum’s fish and chips, meet Japanese footballers playing for Birmingham, visit the Bullring and learn a few Black Country phrases from the locals.

Dozens of Japanese businesses are based in the West Midlands, employing tens of thousands of people.

Mr Suzuki said: “This is the heart of the industrial revolution and the engine of England.

“This is my first visit to the West Midlands and I see great potential.

“The Mayor has put up a fantastic plan with strategies, priority areas and budget underpinning so I think there is huge potential. It’s an exciting prospect for the future.”

On the Museum, he added: “This is my first visit to the Black Country Museum and I’m learning so much about how they made chains, how the washing and laundry used to be.

“It reminds me that when I was very small, things were that way. It’s important you have this living museum so people, particularly children, can come here and learn about the history and tradition.

“Nowadays, when you are born you have everything. But that everything was made during a long span of time.

“It’s fascinating to see that you go out of your way to preserve what it was like. It’s part of your tradition and an important part of your identity.”

Mr Suzuki first went viral when he sang the Welsh national anthem and it was posted online.

He said: “One newspaper did a full page story on me. One of the paragraphs said ‘Japanese ambassador has become so popular on social media, he is dubbed Paddington of ambassadors’!

“My wife read it and she said, ‘Oh Hiroshi – Paddington!’ So that’s how this partnership started. We definitely hope to come back in the future.”

Earlier this year, Mr Parker joined Prime Minister Keir Starmer on a trade mission to China and Japan.

He said: “Our economic relationships with Japan are really important. We’ve got tens of thousands of people here employed by Japanese companies and over 40 operating in and across the region.

“We spent most of yesterday (February 17) afternoon and evening at Birmingham City Football Club.

“We met Japanese footballers both men and women who play for the club and they are wonderful young people. It’s great to see them building their careers here.

“We met a whole series of businesses and cultural organisations that work with Japanese businesses.

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“It was a great opportunity to explore the ways in which we can build on our economic relationship and help businesses thrive in each other’s companies.

“We came to the Black Country to explore the heritage of this place but also take the opportunity to not only recognise the importance of the past but also discuss opportunities for the future.”

Dudley MP Sonia Kumar said the new Midland Metro line, which will open later this year, presents increased opportunities for the future.

She said: “The Metro is a brilliant opportunity for people to get connected, have job opportunities and get wealth into the constituency and the region itself.

“We’ve got a great and strong partnership with Japan in this region and I want that to be grown and economically to be fostered and therefore for us to get the long term benefits.”