Jason James (director)

After his studies, James worked in the financial industry, specialising in Japanese equities.^[2][3] He became Head of Research in the HSBC Securities Tokyo office, and later Head of Global Equity Strategy at HSBC in London.^[4] In 1998, he was interviewed as head of equity research at James Capel (part of HSBC) in Tokyo.^[5] In 1999, he co-authored the book The Political Economy of Japanese Financial Markets: Myth versus Reality with Dick Beason, published by St. Martin's Press.^[6]

From 2007 to 2011, James was Director of the British Council in Tokyo, Japan.^[1] During this time he was also Chair of the European Union National Institutes of Culture Japan cluster, a board member of the Japan–British Society, and a board member of United World Colleges Japan. Since 2011, he has been the Director General at the London-based Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation.^[2] While in London, has also been a Trustee of the Japan Society, and a member of the Japan Season of Culture Action Committee, a member of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group, and a Governor of King's College School, Cambridge.^[7] In 2025, he became Chair of the Joseph Levy Foundation Board of Trustees.^[8]

James was awarded an OBE in 2023 for services to United Kingdom/Japan relations.^[9][10]