May, Abe agree on closer security ties

Okay, whatever - but you just friggin' never, ever sit on a bench with a table in front of you for a tea ceremony. I understand cultural differences and the need to compromise, but sometimes, you just have to say "If you can't even try to do it the right way, let's skip it and go on to other things."

True that but how many people know about the full & true Tea Ceremony which can last between 3-4 hours. Very involved and doubt even most Japanese know it.

"I am determined that our defense and security cooperation will continue to go from strength to strength, enhancing our collective response to threats to the international order and to global peace and security," May said in a statement.

And yet she's willing to stir things up regarding Brexit, the Republic of Ireland and NI/6 counties.

Interesting.

Its possible she is not the most flexible woman in the world but wanted to enjoy the tea ceremony so she opted for a bench...

whoa, @Laguna, calm yourself.

it's not shown in this pic but May arrived in a skirt and might not have felt comfortable getting down to ground level in it. Plus, the bench was probably set up for her so she could feel comfortable and not worry about awkward photograph angles.

Respect of cultures goes both ways and I think the Japanese respected the fact that kneeling on a tatami maybe difficult for a British PM not used to that sort of thing.

i wouldn't sit in shabby chair, small wooden bench, in a average small tatami room if i was the leader of the great british empire. reminds me of the time a world leader was taken to an average overpriced sushi bar, didn't eat anything and got his security service to order high class sushi in his hotel suite.

i wouldn't sit in shabby chair, small wooden bench, in a average small tatami room if i was the leader of the great british empire.

Indeed. But she's not the leader of the great british empire. Thankfully, those days are long gone. This is a PM of a small country, who (like Gordon Brown) nobody voted for and has repeatedly flip flopped regarding a whole number of issues.

As for Japan's investment in the UK and worries post-Brexit; they should consider moving their investments to the Republic of Ireland. Only a hop, skip and a jump away and plenty of access to the EU.

Please tell me chivalry is not totally reduced to the Lady on the left of Prime Minster Theresa May having to haul a bag that's weight is an unnecessary burden.

The man behind should have politely offered assistance.

Manners?

May said on Wednesday that Japan's upcoming trade deal with the EU could offer a template for a future Japan-Britain trade agreement

So after Brexit, Britain can try and copy the things the EU will already be doing. That's about how much sense it all makes.

Abe is hopeless, but I reckon May is worse. Cameron too before her. Abe's never been stupid enough to hold calamitously miscalculated referenda just to shut various noisy elements up.

Good to see she had time to squeeze in a cuppa.

@Laguna

you need to go and study the history of tea......

Very appropriate colour scheme in her outfit.  Just needed a kyokujitsu-ki brooch.....

@Kaerimashita

Secret gooner?

laguna & pacint - that's not true.

There are many schools of tea ceremony. Most involve siting seiza on tatami - but not all.

One I happen to know of (practiced by a friend), is Ryu-sei.

Also the general sitting rules of Cha no Yu are very flexible to accomodate aged, infirmed or otherwise compromised guests, so as to experience and enjoy the ceremony.

As a matter of respect and kind deference to the guests, this flexibility is common towards those unfamiliar with the tea ceremony - esp. foreigners.

Much in the same way as it is not necessary to raise one's little pinky towards the stars when indulging in that very British of customs, "High Tea".

Browny1.

I am talking about the traditional one held in a teahut.

You enter/crawl via a very low entrance, no talking during the ceremony, when done exit.

Chat outside, while the interior decoration is changed , re-enter.

Repeat 3-4 times.

Very strict protocols about where to sit and how to admire the decoration, etc.

What every body has forgot is that May is no spring chicken, IF your use to kneeling all day that is fine and you are use to it, but us westerners DONT kneel all day and every day, for us to do this its quite painful, with his in mind I can see why May has been given a bench to sit on.

This is a PM of a small country, who (like Gordon Brown) nobody voted for 

She in fact contested a General Election in June but lost so many seats that in effect she governs only thanks to a pact with Northern Ireland's Democratic Union Party.

pacint - thanks. But you didn't say that before.

And yes, Prime Minister May, Abe, interpreter, photographer, tea master and general dogs bodies would have had fun fitting into a Sen no Rikyu classical 4.5 tatami chashitsu - ha, ha.

Actually May at times doesn't look as if she moves so freely, so I'm sure her introduction to the Way of Tea allowed for that.

Belonging to one of the EU nations neither this nor most of the BRexit news are reported back home.

Why do they make news on JT?