British Museum ends ‘deeply troubling’ sponsorship from Japanese tobacco firm

The British Museum has also attracted controversy over its 10-year sponsorship deal with BP, which it signed in 2023. Photograph: Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images

The British Museum has ended a controversial sponsorship deal with a Japanese tobacco firm after reports that the government had raised questions about the deal, which some critics said was “deeply troubling”.

The Guardian understands that the museum’s board chose to not renew the 15-year partnership with Japan Tobacco International (JTI), which ended in September.