Boris comes face to face with an android as he visits Japan to drum up post-Brexit trade ties

BORIS JOHNSON today came face-to-face with an android during a tour of Japan - evoking memories of Theresa May's robotic campaign persona.

The Foreign Secretary is visiting Asia to build up links on security and trade in the post-Brexit world.

Today he visited a robotics centre at Waseda University in Tokyo, a partner of the University of Birmingham.

He shook hands with one humanoid robot and pulled wacky faces with another.

The encounter sparked memories of the Prime Minister's "Maybot" nickname, which was given to her after a series of repetitive performances during the election campaign.

Mr Johnson will meet Japanese business leaders and will talk tomorrow to the country's foreign minister about the forthcoming Tokyo Olympics.

He is then continuing to New Zealand and Australia - both top priorities for trade deals once we leave the EU.

The Foreign Secretary said at the start of the trip: "I have come to Japan to build on our historic relationship, which is based on common values, support for democracy, human rights and free and open markets.

"Japanese companies invest more than £40billion in the UK and our commercial relationship is stronger than ever."

Liam Fox is also on a trade mission - visiting the WTO in Geneva to push Britain's role as a leader in open markets.