LATEST UK–JAPAN REPORTS
London, Tokyo Top Wealth List The UK capital topped the list as the city with the most multi-millionaires in the world, while Tokyo was in second place, according to a list issued by Wealth Insight Ltd on 8 May. London boasts 4,224 multi-millionaires (individuals worth more than £19mn), while Tokyo has 3,525 multi-millionaires. Singapore came in third (3,154) and New York City fourth (2,929). As for mere millionaires—those who have net assets of $1mn, excluding their
main home—London was in third place (281,000), New York City in second place (389,000) and Tokyo in the top spot (461,000). The wealth analytics firm believes that the ultra-rich are drawn to London for a number of reasons, including its status as a financial hub, location in a convenient time zone and quality of life. The US has the most millionaires in the world (5,231,000) followed by Japan; the UK (675,000) is in fifth place.
Media Firms Share TV Content Japan International Broadcasting Inc. has signed a deal with Virgin Media Inc. to bring the NHK TV channel to Virgin customers, according to a press release issued on 13 May. The 24-hour channel provides Englishlanguage service for viewers worldwide, offering news and a broad variety of
Brum Pupils Make Film on Death Row Man Two students from Birmingham’s King Edward’s School have made a film about a prisoner in Japan who has been on death row for 45 years, according to a press release issued on 10 May. The nine-minute film tells the story of Iwao Hakamada, a former professional boxer who was sentenced to death in 1968 for the 1966 murder of four people. Hakamada is currently waiting to hear whether he will be granted a retrial. He has testified that he was beaten by police and forced to sign a false confession after he had been interrogated. The film features pupils and staff members of the school talking about notable events that have happened in their own lives, with each of the 45 years Hakamada has been on death row represented. The student filmmakers are both members of the Amnesty International society at the school. Members of the human rights organisation are helping to publicise the film.
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programming from Japan, the Asian region and other parts of the world. Virgin Media will now have full use of NHK’s global network, while viewers of the UK cable TV service will be able to watch Japanese news, music and cooking programmes.
Most Popular Nations Poll The UK is the third-most positively viewed country in the world, while Japan is in fourth place, according to the BBC World Service Country Ratings Poll, issued on 23 May. More than 26,000 randomly selected people in 25 countries were surveyed face-toface and by telephone in the annual poll. Respondents were asked to rate 16 countries and the European Union on whether their influence in the world was “mainly positive” or “mainly negative”. Germany took the top spot, with 59% rating it positively, while Iran was, once again, the most negatively viewed nation. Germany displaced Japan, which saw its positive rating drop from 58% to 51%, and its position fall from first to fourth place. The UK saw a bigger increase in positive ratings than any other country. It climbed to third place in the table, possibly in part because it had hosted the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Oldest, Rarest Whisky for Sale
The Number One Drinks Company has launched Karuizawa 1960—Japan’s oldest and rarest whisky—at the Tokyo International Bar Show, Harpers Wine & Spirits Trades Review reported on 8 May. The Nagano Prefecture maker of the mature whisky, Karuizawa Distillery, was set up in 1955 but ceased production in 2000. However, the UK firm bought the remaining cases of the whisky from the distillery in order to bring alcohol from
smaller, independent distillers to a wider international audience. Modelled on traditional Japanese puzzle boxes and handmade by a British cabinet maker, the Karuizawa 1960 box is adorned with pieces from the original ex-sherry cask head. In addition, the bottle and packaging have been designed by an Edinburghbased studio. Only 41 bottles of the 53.2% single malt are available and are priced at £12,500 each.