Issue 4
December 2004
JET Newsletter

The new Consul General, Mr Shuhei Takahashi, was delighted to host his first JET returnee reception at his official residence in Edinburgh last month.

Ex-JETs from previous years mingled with new returnees, as well as representatives from the Japan Society of Scotland and the University of Edinburgh.

During his speech, Mr Takahashi offered his congratulations to the 2004 new returnees for the successful completion of their tenure in Japan, and commended their hard work and commitment to the task. Speaking on behalf of the new returnees, Govind Kharbanda, took the opportunity to thank the Consul General for hosting the reception and to express his personal thoughts on his experiences in Japan and the benefits of the JET Programme. Based in Nagasaki, Govind was particularly interested in the role played by the Scot, Thomas Blake Glover, in the industrialisation of Japan and the subsequent close ties enjoyed between Scotland and Japan. The JETAA Committee also introduced themselves and highlighted past activities and plans for future events. Ian Harkness, Chairman of the Japan Society of Scotland, also announced that membership to the society would be free for one year for any ex-JETs interested in joining.

An enjoyable evening was had by all and provided a great chance for old friends to catch up, and for new friendships to be forged.

With assistance from the Consulate General of Japan, the annual Japanese Festival at the Teikyo University of Japan in Durham was held in October. The well-attended programme of events included demonstrations of the tea ceremony, martial arts, and the chance to sample some Japanese food.

The university was established in April 1990 to give Japanese undergraduate students the opportunity of spending one year studying in an English academic environment alongside the students of the University of Durham. Since that time, the two Universities have enjoyed close academic, social, cultural and sporting links at all levels.

In a change to previous years, the Consulate General of Japan assumed a new role in the promotion of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme. Presentations were held at eight Scottish universities, with ex-JETs acting as speakers on each occasion. This provided the wonderful opportunity for potential new candidates to not only learn about the practicalities of the programme, but to listen to personal accounts of the JET experience. The Consulate General of Japan is most grateful to the volunteers, and trusts that many people will have been encouraged to apply for the programme.

On the invitation of local Glasgow artist, Mo Shankland, and the support of the Japan Foundation, three Japanese ceramic artists visited Scotland early in September. Toshihide Saiki, Yoji Kato, and Takashi Watanabe took part in a cultural exchange programme to demonstrate the ancient tradition of the Japanese tea ceremony and the significance and role of the ceramic object.

Toshihide Saiki is a talented and experienced ceramicist who is currently the Director of the Mino Ceramics Association. Yoji Kato is an award winning artist who has worked extensively abroad including France, Hawaii, and Australia. They were joined by Takashi Watanabe, a researcher at the Toki Institute of Ceramics, where he has studied tableware ceramics, recycling of tableware and the firing of ceramics by microwave.

The three artists held lectures in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and introduced the cultural status and history of potteries used in the tea ceremony and also focused on the development of ceramics from the 1500’s right up to the present day. The lectures were followed by demonstrations, which highlighted the various glazing and firing techniques utilised by the artists. In particular, Mr Watanabe’s unique microwave firing technique caused a great deal of interest.

To welcome the artists, the Consulate General of Japan held receptions at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh and the Glasgow School of Art. The delighted guests were treated to a display of the tea ceremony by Mr Kato, and were given the chance to sample green tea.

All the events were very well attended and a number of art galleries have subsequently expressed an interest in displaying the artist’s works. It seems very likely therefore, that you will get a second chance to see this wonderful collection of Japanese ceramics.

The Consulate would like to take this opportunity to thank the Edinburgh College of Art, the Glasgow School of Art, and the Royal Institute for Chartered Surveyors for their amazing support. Many thanks also go to the Scottish Council for Development and Industry who kindly produced the promotional material for the event.

In a busy few months, the JETAA have organised a variety of events including sake tasting, informal get-togethers, and the annual ceilidh which was held in the Murrayfield Wanderers Rugby Club in Edinburgh. The JET committee are now looking ahead to 2005 and are seeking your help for a travelling photographic exhibition as part of the EU-Japan Year of People-to-People Exchanges. JETAA chapters across Europe are encouraging their members to send in photographs taken during their time in Japan to demonstrate different perceptions of the country. The best photos will be selected by each chapter and put together in an EU-wide exhibition which will travel to Japan before visiting various countries in Europe. If you would like more information, please email Quynh Luong at:

At the 11th EU-Japan Summit in 2002, Japan and the European Union agreed to designate next year, the 2005 EU-Japan Year of People-to-People Exchanges. This is intended to promote a greater mutual understanding of Japanese and European society and culture, and to encourage face-to-face exchange and contact between the people of Japan and Europe. The Year will also aim to demystify Europe for Japanese people and Japan for Europeans. It will try to counter current stereotypes and assumptions people may have about each other.

Activities and programmes covering a wide range of fields, such as education, science and technology, culture, art, economics, politics and sport may be included in the Year's Official Programme. The main aim is to encourage participation from an extensive range of contributors, including academic and cultural bodies, civil society organizations, sports organisations, regional and local authorities, businesses and individuals, with special emphasis being placed on the participation of young people.

Anyone planning a Japan-related event in 2005 is encouraged to register the event as part of the official programme. Approved event organisers will be provided with an official promotion pack containing posters, leaflets and stickers. They will also be entitled to use the official logo and events will be included in the official calendar, which will appear on the websites of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Commission and the Embassy of Japan in the UK.

Registered events already include the Glasgow Hina Matsuri Festival to be held on the 26th February, which will feature origami, calligraphy and Taiko drumming workshops and performances. There will also be the wonderful chance to see a performance by members of the Nihon Buyo Foundation, on the 14th March at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh. Senzo Nishikawa, Grand Master of the Nishikawa School of classical Japanese dance, and other top-class performers will present Senkei, a group dance in the Su-odori style (dancing without specific costumes), of which the motif is a Japanese fan, plus two other pieces.

There are many more events in Scotland and the north east of England in the initial stages of planning and the Consulate is confident that 2005 will generate an excellent and varied programme. It is intended however, that the Year should not be seen as a one-off event, but should act as a boost to long-term promotion of exchange between the EU and Japan.

The Consulate General of Japan would like to encourage ex-JETs to take an active role in the 2005 EU-Japan Year of People-to-People Exchanges and to ask you to use your knowledge and understanding of Japan and Japanese culture to organise events in your local area. If you have any event ideas or can offer any other assistance, please contact Joanna Stuart at the Consulate General of Japan.

For more information and an application form please access the Embassy of Japan in London website at:

In order to receive JET updates and the latest news on Japan related events, it is essential that the Consulate has your correct details. If your details are incorrect, or if you know of any JET’s in your area that do not receive correspondence from the Consulate, please print out and complete this page and return it to Joanna Stuart at the Consulate. Alternatively, you can email the details to Joanna at:

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Wishing you all the best for 2005