The UK Puts on a Show of Creative Strength in Tokyo

Between Brexit and budget squeezes, there’s a lot to concern the UK production community. But this week the industry had a chance to reflect on the positives as a group of production, post, music and sound companies, led by the APA and supported by the Advertising Association and the Department of International Trade, headed out to Tokyo.

The centrepiece of the trip was a presentation and networking night in the heart of the city’s bustling Shibuya district. Showing off the UK’s prowess might have been an exercise designed at impressing and enticing the creatives and producers in attendance – but for the UK delegation the presentation was a buoying reminder that, even in tough times, the UK leads the way in many creative fields. There was a heartening coming together of competitors on stage – for example MPC’s Jonathan Davies was joined by Glasswork’s Hector Macleod – strengthening the show of unity and reinforcing the idea that this mission is  a collaborative one.

The sold-out presentation was followed by a drinks party at a nearby bar, hosted by local American Peter Grasse, a.k.a. Mr Positive. Feedback from the attendees was as positive and Mr Positive’s bright lime green jacket.

The week-long trip was rounded off by a visit from the Rugby World Cup, a visit to Wieden+Kennedy Tokyo (where delegates learned more about the realities and challenges of being a foreign-owned business operating in an idiosyncratic market like Japan), and an exchange with ADK, the third largest agency group in the country. ADK has recently undergone a huge restructure – where the top two agencies are largely dominated by media, the team at the newly-formed ADK Creative One hope to disrupt the status quo by de-linking creative from media, a radical move in a conservative market.

During the course of the week, it’s worth noting that some companies were even able to secure scripts of their directors. In the long run, the visitors hope that relationships nurtured this week will blossom into a huge business opportunity for the UK.

Check out some photos from the trip below.