From London to Tokyo: new cultural center offers taste of Japan in UK

An employee waters a bonsai tree at the newly-opened Japan House in the Kensington district of London, Britain June 21, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

LONDON (Reuters) - From bonsai trees to freshly made sushi, a cultural center in London hopes to offer a taste of all things Japanese.

Japan House, which opens to the public on Friday, brings together food, art, design and technology from Japan, with items such as 100 pound ($135) handcrafted nail clippers, traditional tea cups and Japanese whisky on display.

The center is billing itself as a "new home" for Japanese creativity, innovation and business in Britain, where more than 1,000 Japanese companies operate, according to country's ambassador to Britain Koji Tsuruoka.

The Akira restaurant, created by chef Shimzu Akira, is seen in the newly-opened Japan House in the Kensington district of London, Britain June 21, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

The London location adds to two other Japan House centers in Los Angeles and Sao Paolo.

(Reporting by Emily Roe; Writing by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Alison Williams)

An employee looks at a bonsai tree at the newly-opened Japan House in the Kensington district of London, Britain June 21, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

An employee moves an item at the newly-opened Japan House in the Kensington district of London, Britain June 21, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson