Japanese ambassador spends day as a Peaky Blinder

4 hours ago

Rob Mayorin Dudley

News image — Hiroshi Suzuki visited the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley

BBC Hiroshi Suzuki has a grey flat cap on and a navy blue coat, with a blue scarf and red tie. He wears glasses and is holding a small Paddington Bear toy which also has a grey flat cap on, and a blue coat. — Hiroshi Suzuki visited the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley

The Japanese ambassador who has become a social media sensation because of his visits around the UK has dressed up like a Peaky Blinder during a visit to the West Midlands.

Hiroshi Suzuki, who often carries around a Paddington Bear toy, made a trip to the Black Country Living Museum on Wednesday.

The museum not only takes people through more than 250 years of the region's history, but it is one of the key sets featured in the BAFTA-winning BBC series.

Suzuki - and Paddington - were dressed like characters from the show and took a tour which included watching traditional chain-making.

During his visit, he tried fish and chips, and was taught some iconic West Midlands phrases - "by order of the Peaky Blinders", "Bostin'", and "alright, Bab?".

However, the excursion was not just fun and games - it was about Japan's relationship with the West Midlands as well.

"Roughly 40 Japanese companies invested and operate here in the West Midlands region as a whole, and they are creating so many jobs," he said.

Six people, five men and one woman stand in a line at the museum on a street with old shops in the background. One is dressed as a police officer, the ambassador is wearing a grey flat cap on and a navy blue coat, with a blue scarf and red tie. Another man is dressed as a milkman with a container of milk glasses and a black and white striped apron — It is hoped the visit will attract Japanese tourists to the region

"Through him, I express my love and affection for British people and British culture because Japanese people love British culture," he said of Paddington, who he brought with him to the museum.

It is hoped that coverage of his trip will encourage his Japanese followers to visit the region.

The Dudley visit comes off the back of a trip to Birmingham City Football Club, which has three Japanese first team players, and the iconic Bullring bull in Birmingham.

Since being appointed Japanese ambassador to the UK in 2024, Suzuki has gone viral for several of his visits.

Last week, he had a "wee swally" before attending a Celtic football match.

He recently visited Manchester where he was presented with Boddingtons beer, which he downed and exclaimed: "By 'eck, it's gorgeous," repeating a slogan featured in a 1990s advert for the cask ale originally brewed in Manchester.

In January 2025, Suzuki shared a video of himself singing the Welsh anthem Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (Land of my Fathers) while holding Welsh and Japanese flags and a red dragon.

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