This plaque commemorates the visit of the Iwakura Ambassadors' Mission from Japan, which was received by the Lord Mayor in the original Manchester Town Hall which stood on this site. The 40-member Japanese delegation came to Manchester and the North West to learn from its civic, industrial and commercial success. On leaving Manchester in October 1872 Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary Iwakura stated: "We have found friendship at every turn and hope that you may one day visit Japan so that we may return your kindness and hospitality."