The visit – which begins on Tuesday – will also include meetings to bolster technological trade ties with Japan, which was the fourth largest investor in London past year, including in financial technology, such as contactless payment systems, and biosciences.
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During talks with Olympics minister Toshiaki Endo and Tokyo governor Yoichi Masuzoe, the mayor will also discuss the investment opportunities the major sporting events could create.
The Conservative MP said he was “figuratively and literally” passing the ball on to Tokyo as he handed over a 2015 Rugby World Cup ball as a gift.
Paul Van der Burgh, Toyota (GB) PLC President and Managing Director said: “We have been delighted to welcome the Mayor of London to our headquarters in Japan to see for himself Toyota’s commitment to sustainable mobility”.
The visit is part of the Mayor’s initiative to strengthen ties with world cities, such as Tokyo, and promote London to the world. He will help champion a few of London’s greatest export brands from food to fashion, including Burberry and British brands at Hankyu, Osaka’s own equivalent to Selfridges.
Mr Johnson, who will be accompanied by academics from the MedCity biosciences organisation, will seek to raise the profile of London’s expertise in the sector in a speech at BioJapan, the largest biotechnology event in Asia, during a visit to Yokohama. Japan is the second largest investor in London’s life science sector over the last 10 years, and our two countries are facing similar healthcare and demographic challenges.
Mr Johnson said: “It is fantastic that London will benefit from these new state-of-the-art hydrogen vehicles”.
“This is our chance to loudly bang the drum for London”.
After test-driving Toyota’s new hydrogen-powered auto, the Mirai, earlier this week, Mr Johnson will check out the competition at Mitsubishi Motors. It now employs more than 44,000 people and the industry generates around £20 billion in annual revenue across the UK.
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He will be joined on the trip by London tech ambassador’s Eileen Burbidge MBE, HM Treasury FinTech Envoy and Derek White, Chief Innovation Officer, Barclays, to share London’s expertise and highlight the opportunities for technology innovation in Japan.
