He carries a Paddington Bear toy on his adventures, has dressed up in Peaky Blinders garb and downed a pint of Boddingtons beer while crying out the famous slogan: “By ’eck it’s gorgeous!”
Hiroshi Suzuki, Japanese ambassador to the UK, must be the most colourful visiting diplomat we’ve ever had. And he goes out of his way to prove his love of all things British.
In the famous 1990s Ferrero Rocher TV adverts the ‘ambassador’ spoils his guests with the ‘luxury’ nutty chocs. And in the two years since Suzuki took up his post in September 2024, the 65-year-old has been spoiling us with his love bombing antics, becoming a social media sensation in the process.
His devotion to our country seems refreshingly genuine, recently telling the Daily Telegraph: “I think the UK is perhaps the country with the greatest reservoirs of cultural power, traditions and wisdom.”
Born in Kyoto, the son of teachers, Suzuki has worked as a diplomat for 40 years and was a pal of assassinated former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe. In his time he’s been posted everywhere from Washington DC to Iran and Afghanistan…but he seems to love the British Isles the best.
Last January, within months of his arrival Suzuki went viral after releasing a video of himself belting out the Welsh national anthem, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, before a visit there, while holding Welsh and Japanese flags and a dragon toy.
And he’s continued to win hearts across the land ever since. Suzuki has even been dubbed ‘the Paddington Bear of ambassadors’ after taking a cuddly toy of the Peruvian bear character – bought by his wife Eiko – on his travels around the UK.
He posts their exploits to his 221,000 followers on X saying social media helps him “reach out.”
Super smiley Suzuki has popped up with the plushie everywhere from Ascot racecourse to the Badminton Horse trials, Silverstone and the Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland.
On a tour of the Black Country Living Museum in the West Midlands they both donned peaked caps like those from the Peaky Blinders TV series.
And when he and Eiko went to see Paddington: The Musical she wore a customized kimono featuring the marmalade loving critter for the occasion.
Suzuki explains: “Through him, I express my love and affection for British people and British culture because Japanese people love British culture.”
He reckons his nation can’t get enough of the Beatles and James Bond and have huge respect for our famous figures like playwright William Shakespeare, Winston Churchill and the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Suzuki says his daughter is a “big fan of Harry Potter” and he and his wife are lifelong fans of TV star Jeremy Clarkson, even choosing his voice for their car’s Sat Nav.
The dapper dignitary has a personal passion for pints too. He’s posted snaps of himself enjoying a beer in the Churchill Arms in London and the Turf Tavern in Oxford.
And he’s drunk Boddingtons alongside ex-mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham as well as downing a draught of Adnams in Norwich.
Suzuki says: “I love going to pubs. Enjoying a good local ale or bitter is always a huge joy to me.”
He’s also a fan of our food. Fish and chips with a splash of Sarsons vinegar is a particular favourite. After sampling traditional Scouse in Liverpool he described it as “boss scran”. On a visit to Manchester he said: “Eccles cakes are the best”. He has also said Scotland’s fizzy drink Irn-Bru is “just great” and branded haggis “fantastic.”
With the Premier League kicking off this weekend, the diplomat has also expressed his support for British football teams saying Japanese players long to ply their trade in the top-flight calling it “the pitch of their dreams”.
In his time here Suzuki had pulled on both Liverpool and Everton shirts on visits to the North-West and toured Man City’s Etihad stadium. He also to a match at Celtic FC, after enjoying a “wee swally” of Tennent’s lager, of course.
On 23rd April this year he wished the English a “Happy St George’s Day” in a video of him enjoying tea and cake, while offering up a single red rose to the camera.
Of course, Suzuki’s role has a serious side. He says: “Japan and the UK are irreplaceable partners who share fundamental values and common strategic interests.”
But it’s the down-to-earth pleasure he’s taken in everyday British traditions that has made him a celebrity in his own right and given us a timely reminder of all the things we have to offer the world.
One observer hailed Suzuki as not only the “cutest man” he had ever seen, but added: “He has made me feel more proud to be British than any figure since I was born.”