The British Museum is the oldest national public museum in the world. Open since 1759 we have always welcomed the world to our doorstep. The Museum has for many years had very strong cultural ties to Japan, displaying Japanese collections in London and sending a series of very successful exhibitions on a wide variety of themes to Japanese venues. This current initiative is a welcome one which we hope will encourage ever greater numbers of Japanese people to visit London and the British Museum and to see 'the world under one roof'.

Neil MacGregor
Director, British Museum