Consulate General Of Japan In Edinburgh

Ayreshire Fiddle Orchestra Farewell Performance
On 22nd June, Consul General attended a farewell concert for the Ayreshire Fiddle Orchestra.
The Orchestra composed of around sixty local boys and girls will embark on their Japan tour at the end of the month, and will play several concerts across Tokyo, Yokohama, Kyoto and Hiroshima.
... The Orchestra performed a number of traditional Scottish and Japanese songs, with ‘peace’ being an overarching theme for the concert.
Following an address from the Consul General, scarfs designed by Mr Victor Spence made from ‘World Peace Tartan’ were presented to the Consul General, South Ayreshire Provost Helen Moonie, local MP Mr Bill Grant, and Tour Leaders Mr Ewan Terras and Mrs Kathleen Terras. Earlier in January of this year, Prime Minister May was photographed wearing the same scarf after it was gifted to her by the Ayreshire Fiddle Orchestra at a Burns Supper performance at 10 Downing Street.
For further details on the Orchestra’s Rising Sun Tour please follow the link: http://fiddleorchestra.com/
See More

The second Cross-party Group on Japan meeting at Scottish Parliament.
On Tuesday 18th June Consul General Nozomu Takaoka and Minister Takashi Okada from the Embassy of Japan in London attended the second meeting of the Cross-party Group on Japan at the Scottish Parliament.
The second meeting focussed on developing international trade opportunities for small and medium size enterprises (SME’s).
... The meeting was chaired by Dean Lockhart MSP with the participation of Scottish Parliamentarians including Bill Bowman MSP, Tom Mason MSP and Jamie Halcro Johnston MSP. The meeting invited business related organisations such as Federation of Small Business and Scottish Chambers of Commerce, who contributed to the discussion on how to encourage Scottish SMEs’ investment in Japan.
The Consul General shared a reflection( https://www.edinburgh.uk.emb-japan.go.jp/ itp…/00_000553.html) on the important role SMEs play in developing Japan – Scotland trade relations, and the Minister emphasised the importance of overall UK-Japan relations including business.
See More

2019 Saltire Scholar Internship Programme
Founded in 2007, every year the non-profit organization Entrepreneurial Scotland offers internships for graduates from Scottish Universities at leading global and companies, charities, social enterprises. This summer, three of the Saltire Scholars will intern in Japan, working for Mitsubishi, Yokogawa Electric and Crescent.

On 4th June, as part of the Japan – UK Season of Culture 2019/2020 the grand final of the 2019 Mitsubishi Pump It Up School Challenge was held in Livingston.
The collaboration between 11High schools and Academies in West Lothian schools and Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioning Systems Europe Ltd and West Lothian Chambers of Commerce has been running for the past 5 years and encourages young people to consider heat pump technology in innovative new ways, while combatting green...house gas emissions.
This year saw 2000 participants from 11 of schools across West Lothian.
Following addresses from the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, and the President Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioning Systems Europe Ltd, Mr Yoshihiro Sumida, the finalists gave their last presentations.
Following an address from the Consul General, this year’s winners were announced. The overall winners. Inveralmond Community High School, secured victory with their concept of using the heat pump system to keep airport runways free of frost and ice.
The event was also attended by Councilors David Dodds, and finished with closing remarks and congratulations from West Lothian Provost, Tom Kerr.
See More

You now have until the 28th to get your manga entries in! Email to info@ed.mofa.go.jp or post it to our office. Full details at https://www.edinburgh.uk.emb-japan.go.jp/ itp…/00_000492.html … ✍️Best of luck to you all!

Exhibition News- Don't miss out on 'I sent you a postcard' at Summerhall's Library Gallery from Saturday 15th June 2019 until Sunday 7th July.
An exhibition of illustrations and designs full of Scottish humour from Japanese Illustrator and Edinburgh local, Ryoko Tamura.
... https://www.summerhall.co.uk/visual-…/i -sent-you-a-postcard/
See More

【NEWS】Tokyo Metropolitan Government is now accepting applications for FinTech Business Camp Tokyo!
http://www.senryaku.metro.tokyo.jp/…/bi zcamptky/…/index.html

Meeting with Jamie Halcro-Johnston at Scottish Partliament
On the 22nd May, Consul General Takaoka payed a courtesy call to the vice-Convener of the Cross-Party group on Japan, Jamie Halcro-Johnston MSP. Originally from Orkney, the representative for the Highlands and Islands, and the Consul General exchanged thoughts on the continued cooperation in fields such as energy, culture and sports.

Lecture by Professor Will Reed at the University of Edinburgh
On the 2nd May, the Japan Society of Scotland held a lecture event at the University of Edinburgh, in celebration of the advent of the Reiwa era.
Following a welcome address from the Consul General, Professor Will Reed from Yamanashi University gave a lecture entitled, Remember Ryoma: the Renaissance Samurai. The lecture focussed on the life and importance of the 19th century samurai, Sakamoto Ryoma.
... Following the lecture Professor Reed, who is also a 10th-dan calligraphy instructor gave a demonstration of Sakamoto Ryoma’s signature.
See More

Notice: Opening of the new East Asia galleries at the National Museum of Scotland
Last February, The National Museum of Scotland opened a permanent exhibition dedicated to East Asia. Here you can enjoy Japan exhibits such as Buddhist sculpture and bronze work, samurai armor and picture scrolls.
The armor pictured of about 200 years ago, but is incredibly well preserved, allowing viewers to see both its strength and artistry. The picture scrolls depicts life in a theatre dist...rict of Edo (Present day Tokyo) more than 300 years ago. While a portion of the physical scroll can be seen in the cabinet, thanks to digital archiving the full scroll can be viewed by scrolling and zooming via the dedicated screen. The statue of Buddhist deity, Kannon is also well preserved and exhibited in very good condition. The Lotus pedestal is inscribed with the name of the donor and the temple at the time.In addition to these items the museum features countless other exhibitions that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.
After its grand opening, on the 9th of February, a weekend of family-friendly events were held promote the newly displayed works from East Asia. At the Japan booth featured performances of: Taiko drums, traditional Bon-Odori dancing, songs from the Japanese School children’s choir and a Kamishiba paper theatre. In addition guests were also able to enjoy origami, Ikebana, trying on yukata, tea-ceremony and calligraphy.
The Scottish National Museum, is the most visited museum in the UK, excluding London, and welcomes on average 2.7 Million guests a year.
For more on upcoming events in the museum’s East Asia gallery, please see below:
11th May – 31st May from 14:15pm Tour of East Asia Gallery (30 minutes)
https://www.nms.ac.uk/…/national…/tou r-of-east-asia-gallery/
7th July- 11:00-16:00pm Tanabata: Japanese Star Festival https://www.nms.ac.uk/…/national-museum -of-scotla…/tabanata/
See More

National Bonsai Exhibition (5th May)
On the 5th May, this year’s National Bonsai exhibition was held in Troon.
The event was organised by the Scottish Bonsai Association, who since 1979, have been promoting and encouraging the art of bonsai.... The exhibition displayed a vast collection of authentic bonsai, which captivated the interest of all the attendees.
The event was also a great opportunity to for newcomers and veterans alike to purchase excellent species of bonsai.
See More

A series of Japanese films will be screened at Glasgow Film theatre this month for their Cinemasters series. The screenings will include last year’s winner of the Palme d’or at the prestigious Cannes International Film Festival, “Shoplifters”, as well as 4 other works from internationally renowned Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda. We hope you can enjoy this great opportunity to watch Japanese cinema in Scotland. To learn more about the film schedule please click here. https://glasgowfilm.org/shows/cinemasters -hirokazu-kore-eda

Orkney Children’s Day event 2019
On the 4th May 2019, a Children’s Day event was held in Kirkwall, Orkney. The event coincides with a Japanese national holiday and introduces Japanese culture to the island every year. This year’s event was organised by the newly established Orkney Japan Association.
Held in the historic King street Hall, attendees were able practice calligraphy, origami, enjoy traditional Japanese toys and games and even try on traditional Japanese wear.... Guests were also able to enjoy a live demonstrations from Mrs Deborah Hawthorn from the Sogetsu School of Ikebana as well as from Tsuchigumo Daiko drum group and had the chance to join in traditional Obon dancing.
Local politician and Chair of the Orkney Japan Association Liam McArthur MSP was also in attendance, and praised the hard work of the volunteers and joined in with the children’s activities.
See More

Thistle and Sakura: A Glasgow – Japan networking event
On Wednesday the 23rd April, as part of the Japan – UK Season of Culture, the a networking event was held at the University of Glasgow to promote current links between Glasgow and Japan as well as foster new ties across a variety of disciplines.
The event was opened by Head organizers Professor Konstantinos Kontis, Dean for Global Engagement for East Asia and China, and Dr Saeko Yazaki, a lecturer in Religious Studies (...Islam, Muslim-Jewish relations and Japanese traditions) at the University.
Following a short address, Consul General Takaoka gave a presentation under the title “Reiwa and Brexit”, focussing on the political and economic relations between Japan and Scotland.
The event featured presentations, on a variety of topics from: • Professor David Clark, Interdisciplinary Studies – End of life care • Dr Alan Cresswell, Environmental Research Centre – Environmental research in Fukushima • Professor Carl Lavery, Theatre, Film & Television Studies – Documentary on Hashima Island • Dr Robert Maslen, English Literature – Anime • Professor Laurence Grove, Director of Stirling Maxwell Centre for the Study of Text/Image Cultures –Manga • Dr Olivier Salazar-Ferrer and Dr Ramona Fotiade, Modern Languages & Cultures – Influence of Japanese literature on modern languages
The presentations finished with a Minyo (Japanese traditional dance) performance from Ms Yoshie Campbell.
Lastly, the event closed with a reception, allowing guests to further discuss opportunities for future collaboration between Glasgow and Japan.
See More

On 16th April, Consul General Nozomu Takaoka paid a courtesy call to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Humza Yousaf MSP and expressed his appreciation for the supporting measures extended by the Scottish government for the safety of Scotland’s Japanese communities.

On 6th April, Deputy Consul General Masami Fujimoto attended the entrance ceremony at the North East England Japanese Saturday School. The Deputy Consul General congratulated the pupils joining primary and middle school levels and encouraged them to keep making the most of their experiences in the school.

Continuing on from 2018, on 1st and 8th February the Consulate General of Japan in Edinburgh, in collaboration with the Japan Foundation in London, held the 2019 Japanese film festival at the University of Edinburgh.
On Friday the 1st, after a presentation on anime films by Dr Robert Maslen of the University of Glasgow, the animated Shoujo-adventure, ‘Pop in Q’ was screened.
The following week on Friday 8th, after an introductory talk about the evolution of Japanese food from... senior lecturer of Japanese Studies, Dr Chris Perkins, the film “A tale of Samurai Cooking: A true love story” was screened.
Once again, thank you to everyone who attended the film festival this year.
See More

On Saturday 23rd March, Consul General Nozomu Takaoka attended the graduation ceremony of The Scotland Japanese School in Livingston.
The Consul General congratulated the 20 students ranging from nursery, primary and middle-school classes on their graduation and encouraged them to continue making the most of their experiences made at the Saturday school.