Brand new day

The flying visit of Cocko and Co. (I really must stop calling him that) got me thinking about Britain's standing in Japan. In the US, Britain is seen as a slightly effete, slightly haughty, fairly shabby country run by toffs, whereas the Japanese look at the same evidence and come to a more flattering conclusion. Japanese ladies often tell me they would like to take afternoon tea in the Cotswolds. Folk here assume Britain is a more powerful country than it is and are surprised to learn that it has less than half the population of Japan and is about a 50th the size of the USA. By the way, no-one has heard of Britain's alleged special relationship with America. The Japanese believe they have an especially close relationship with Uncle Sam as favoured younger brother. As far as I can tell, Americans have no knowledge of either special relationship and would be checking both of our IDs at the gate to the family barbecue. Anyway, just to prove that Britain is a brand, here's the image...      

...and here's the reality: