The appointment by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe late last year to the board of Japan's public broadcaster NHK of people who can be described only as right-wing extremists, has been noted by some Japan watchers in Britain as another manifestation of the reactionary political policies being pursued by Abe and his close supporters.
So far, Abe's expression of political extremism has not aroused the attention of the British media generally, but if the trend continues and if the dangers of a confrontation with China escalate, memories of the Pacific War and the maltreatment of British prisoners of war by the Japanese military are certain to revive.
Britain's approval does not matter as much to Japan as it did, and Abe may feel that he can ignore British reactions, but American complaisance should not be taken for granted.