The rising sun has cast an unflattering light on Donald Trump’s latest diplomatic overture. The former president’s clumsy appropriation of Japanese anime to curry favour has sparked a backlash in Tokyo, where officials and cultural purists alike are bristling at what they see as a shallow, transactional use of their cherished art form. As the yen weakens and capital seeks shelter, one must ask: is this another example of American cultural hegemony ineptly applied, or an opportunity for British diplomacy to step into the breach?
Trump’s team, ever eager to tap into populist sentiment, deployed anime imagery in a recent social media campaign aimed at Japanese audiences. The result was a predictable firestorm. Japanese netizens accused him of “cultural theft” and “otaku pandering,” while government sources quietly expressed dismay at the lack of consultation. The anime industry, a £4.2 billion export powerhouse, prides itself on nuance and tradition. Trump’s broad strokes are an offence to its very spirit.
Enter British cultural diplomacy. The UK, with its own storied history of soft power, from the BBC World Service to the British Council, has long understood that cultural exchange is not a transaction but a conversation. In an era of fractured global relations, the UK’s approach offers a stark contrast: patient, respectful, and mutually beneficial. The recent announcement of a “Creative Corridor” between London and Tokyo signals a deeper engagement. Curators at the British Museum are already working with Japanese partners on an exhibition exploring the shared aesthetics of ukiyo-e and Pre-Raphaelite art. This is not about borrowing imagery for political gain. It is about building bridges.
The financial implications are not trivial. Japan is the world’s third-largest economy, and its markets remain a haven for global capital. But capital is skittish. The recent 2.4% drop in the Nikkei 225, partly attributed to trade war anxieties, underscores the need for stable, long-term partnerships. British financial services, with their centuries-old reputation for probity, can offer Japan an alternative to the volatility of American-style dealmaking. Indeed, the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, signed in 2020, has already boosted bilateral trade by 12%. Cultural diplomacy could be the next growth vector.
Critics will argue that the UK is merely exploiting a momentary diplomatic vacuum. But that would be to misunderstand the nature of soft power. It is not a zero-sum game. By championing a more respectful engagement with Japanese culture, the UK positions itself as a reliable, thoughtful partner in an age of unpredictability. Meanwhile, Trump’s antics reveal the peril of treating culture as a marketing tool. The bond yields on reputation are more volatile than any gilt market.
In the end, the lesson is clear. The City of London knows that trust is the hardest currency to earn and the easiest to squander. Trump’s anime gaffe has given the UK an opening. Whether it seizes it with the same precision as a Bank of England rate decision will determine whether this becomes a footnote or a turning point in Anglo-Japanese relations.
