Since 1854
A legacy of naval partnership
The Royal Naval Association Japan Branch continues a tradition of naval cooperation and friendship spanning more than 170 years. Formal diplomatic ties between Britain and Japan began with the treaty of 1854, marking the beginning of a relationship that would profoundly shape both nations' naval destinies.
That partnership reached its zenith with the Anglo-Japanese Alliance of 1902–1923, which bound Britain and Japan to assist one another in safeguarding their respective interests in China and Korea — the first alliance between a European country and an Asiatic power against a Western rival.
The alliance proved transformative for both navies. Japan emerged as a formidable naval power while Britain gained a crucial strategic partner in the Far East. During the First World War the cooperation deepened further, with both navies working together to secure vital sea lanes and protect Allied interests across the Pacific and beyond.
The branch today
A link between past and present
Building on this heritage, the Japan Branch brings together those with naval stories to share, in the spirit of companionship and mutual support.
Our thriving branch of over thirty members holds an annual AGM and enjoys many social events and ship visits throughout the year, maintaining the bonds of naval fellowship that have connected British and Japanese waters for generations.
We maintain strong connections with the Royal British Legion and with Suikokai, the Japanese retired naval officers' association, continuing the cooperation between British and Japanese naval communities. Whether you served in the Royal Navy, in other Commonwealth navies, or simply share our interest in naval heritage, you will find a warm welcome.
The Japan Branch upholds the Royal Naval Association's core mission of providing companionship, comradeship and unity to everyone with a naval story — supporting our members through life's highs and lows, and preserving the traditions that have made the relationship between British and Japanese naval communities so enduring.