A decorated Japanese politician visited Dartford Grammar School this week as part of a state visit.

Hiroshi Hase, who serves as the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, is touring each G7 nation to promote Japanese culture.

The former wrestler was at DGS on Tuesday to meet Japanese teachers and students, as well as to officially open the school’s impressive new canteen.

Mr Hase said: “I used to teach classes in Japan and I am very grateful to all the Japanese teachers and other staff here who showed me around the school today.

“I wish for each of the students to visit us in Japan and continue to be interested in our country.”

Mr Hase received several gifts from the school and was treated to a haiku recital, and Year 12 student Pat Sykes showed off some of the skills that made him a British judo champion last year.

The minister then joined head teacher John Oakes in unveiling a plaque marking his visit, and to declare the canteen officially open.

Pupils from nearby Oakfield Primary School also attended.

Mr Oakes said the event “contradicted the phrase east is east and west is west”, while deputy head teacher Guy Hewitt said he was incredibly proud of welcoming the minister.

Mr Hewitt said: “We are really proud of what we do with languages.

“Mr Hase is one of the three or four most powerful men in Japan; for him to come here is massive. As a politics teacher myself I am delighted.”

More than 400 DGS students are learning Japanese, with some enjoying a 10-day exchange trip with Kaichi High School in Wakayama back in October.

Mika Maruyama, 17, is on a month-long exchange from the Japanese school and has been left impressed by DGS’s commitment to language learning. She said: “I have been here for three weeks and three days so far and I am really enjoying it.

“Participation in class is very different here. It’s very aggressive… in a positive way! I was very surprised.”

Mr Hase’s visit was a memorable but fleeting one; he boarded a plane for Italy on Tuesday evening before making his way to Belgium.

He said: “We hope to continue our very strong relationship with the UK and to learn from our visit here.

“These students are the next generation that we look forward to having a strong relationship with.”

DGS’s new canteen is fully open to staff and students, with the school also hoping to use it for community functions and other events.