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The Japan–British Society (or ) was founded in 1908 "to encourage the study of things British and to promote cordial relations between the peoples of Great Britain and Japan."〔(【引用サイトリンク】 publisher = Japan Society of London )〕 It is the oldest bilateral organization in Japan, promoting international cooperation and exchanges. ==Foundation of the society== The society was founded in 1908, six years after Japan and the United Kingdom formed the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, which at first was a purely military arrangement. Japanese Government Officials established the society after recognising the need for mutual understanding of the two countries' societies and cultures. The Japan–British Society and the Japan Society's Japan branch (which is no longer extant) appear to have had their roots in a group known as "the Old Country Club" for Japanese who had previously lived in England. On the 20th of October, 1908, a meeting was held at the Peer's Club〔The Peer's Club purchased the old Rokumeikan building in 1890, and renamed it The building was demolished in 1941, and its imposing, copper clad gates were destroyed by bombing in 1945.〕 in Tokyo to discuss the formation in Tokyo of a society to equal the Japan Society of London. Viscount Hayashi was elected as chairman, and the British Ambassador〔The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary from the Court of St. James's to Japan holds the presidency of the society for the duration of their appointment.〕 was elected as its first president. The Ambassador proposed that the society be named "The Japanese and British Society", however those present chose the shorter "The British Society" instead. On the 27th of November, 1908, "The British Society" held its inaugural meeting at the Imperial Hotel〔The original, wooden Imperial Hotel was built next to the Rokumeikan/Kazoku Kaikan in 1890, but was demolished and replaced by a stone and concrete structure designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1923, which in turn was demolished to make way for the current structure in 1968.〕 in Tokyo, and at some point after 1910, changed its name to "The Japan-British Society".〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Japan–British Society」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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