Japans national public broadcasting organisation NHK gathered a wealth of Brexit coverage from the 2016 Made in the Midlands Exhibition.
The broadcast team was led by Senior Producer, Daisuke Koyama who revealed that NHK were currently working on creating a video package that is scheduled to be broadcast on June 15th, regarding the potential impacts of a Brexit to Europe and Japan.
Koyama explained: Made in the Midlands is something that is very interesting for us to follow. Were following in particular one of your Gold members in Tom Mongan, General Manager of Subcon Laser, who is still undecided.
Japan is worried, as we definitely want Great Britain to stay in the EU because people worry about our economy being affected. The UK will be affected, but the bigger concern to us is how this decision is going to affect the whole of Europe. We are wondering if this is going to start a chain reaction within Europe, with countries trying to leave and if this could destabilise the region.
NHKs Brexit coverage with Made in the Midlands began when they attended the MIM Great Brexit debate which was held on 28th April at Wolverhampton Business Solutions centre. The debate was Chaired by MIM President Christopher Greenough. First Orchard Director, Ilona Dalecka and Scott Harrison, Director of Swindell and Pearson represented the Bremain opinion. Whereas, Bill Good, CEO of Diverco Limited and Deryk Law, CEO of Clayton Holdings were in favour of a Brexit.
The Brexit debate within Great Britain is being closely monitored by the Japanese broadcasters due to the implications for the countrys manufacturing companies. Japanese companies do not want to be surrounded by Japans weak economy.
Additionally, the Japanese public are wary about the potential increase in political tensions, as Koyama explained: Our worry is that Japan look up to Europe. We share the burden of the Second World War. In Asia, especially the far-east we have not dealt with it very well. We still have a big feud with China, South Korea and North Korea as well. Many of us look up to Europe as you managed to get over those problems by creating the EU.
Koyamas sentiments were recently echoed by Prime Minister, David Cameron who recently claimed: Whenever we turn our back on Europe, sooner or later we come to regret it. We have always had to go back in, and always at much higher cost.
Can we be so sure that peace and stability on our continent are assured without any shadow of doubt? Is that a risk worth taking? I would never be so rash as to make that assumption.
With Camerons warning to the British public, Koyama concluded: If this could be the start of the breakdown of the Union that is a big concern to us. It will not happen immediately, but who knows in ten or twenty years time how this could affect the security of the world. Europe was always the one that calmed everybody down in the world.
Great Britains stance in the imminent EU referendum will capture the attention of the world, as the majority of countries will be hoping that the British public choose to remain a part of the EU. Furthermore, any business corporation that primarily deals within the EU will be nervously hoping to retain access to the single market. If Great Britain does leave the EU, nobody can provide an answer for our future economy, trade and relationship with the remainder of Europe.