Address from Consul General Takaoka: Queen Margaret University - International organisational response to new global challenges
2019/3/26
Ladies and gentleman, thank you all for joining us today.
My name is Nozomu Takaoka, the Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh.
Firstly, I would like to thank Dr Richard Butt for the kind introduction. I would also like to thank Professor Joe Goldblatt for organizing this innovative idea of combining my talk on the Japanese perspective of Brexit; a guest lecture on Kimono and a beautiful presentation of Japanese Kimono by fashionable and brilliant costume design students of the Queen Margaret University— which we can enjoy at the end of the event.
I would like to thank Dr Saeko Yazaki who kindly took time to come to Edinburgh from the University of Glasgow, where she normally teaches Islamic Studies, to give what promises to be an interesting and insightful talk on Japanese Kimono.
I would like to take this opportunity to announce that some of the Kimonos featuring in the presentation later, actually five, will be donated to the University by my Cultural Officer, Ms Yoko Murata, whose hometown Kiryu is well-known for Kimono and her generous uncle is the owner of Kimono shop.
I hope that those 5 kimonos will continue to encourage innovative Scottish take on traditional Kimono by the students and foster deeper relations between the University and our Consulate.
With the thanks addressed, it is now time to address two B-words.
The first B-word relates to a Scottish great poet, Robert Burns.
Back in January, I was kindly invited by the Presiding Officer, Ken Mackintosh to a Burn’s Supper at the Scottish Parliament. I should say that he practically forced myself and the other Consul Generals in Edinburgh to prepare for a recital of Burns’ Tam o’ Shantar.
But I thank him for two reasons. The first reason is that Tam o’ Shantar made me realize that Burns poem reflects many salient truths of human life including the fact that nobody can stop the clock from ticking. The second reason is that he allocated to me a very good part of Tam o’ Shantar so that I could practice beautiful Scottish accent.
My line starts like this;
“Nae man can tether time or tide. The hour approaches Tam maun ride.”
Indeed, the 29th of March deadline will likely be extended. But you cannot change the fact that the clock is continuing to tick for Brexit.
On that note I would like to begin my lecture on the second B-word.
My lecture’s title is "International organisational response to new global challenges"
My name is Nozomu Takaoka, the Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh.
Firstly, I would like to thank Dr Richard Butt for the kind introduction. I would also like to thank Professor Joe Goldblatt for organizing this innovative idea of combining my talk on the Japanese perspective of Brexit; a guest lecture on Kimono and a beautiful presentation of Japanese Kimono by fashionable and brilliant costume design students of the Queen Margaret University— which we can enjoy at the end of the event.
I would like to thank Dr Saeko Yazaki who kindly took time to come to Edinburgh from the University of Glasgow, where she normally teaches Islamic Studies, to give what promises to be an interesting and insightful talk on Japanese Kimono.
I would like to take this opportunity to announce that some of the Kimonos featuring in the presentation later, actually five, will be donated to the University by my Cultural Officer, Ms Yoko Murata, whose hometown Kiryu is well-known for Kimono and her generous uncle is the owner of Kimono shop.
I hope that those 5 kimonos will continue to encourage innovative Scottish take on traditional Kimono by the students and foster deeper relations between the University and our Consulate.
With the thanks addressed, it is now time to address two B-words.
The first B-word relates to a Scottish great poet, Robert Burns.
Back in January, I was kindly invited by the Presiding Officer, Ken Mackintosh to a Burn’s Supper at the Scottish Parliament. I should say that he practically forced myself and the other Consul Generals in Edinburgh to prepare for a recital of Burns’ Tam o’ Shantar.
But I thank him for two reasons. The first reason is that Tam o’ Shantar made me realize that Burns poem reflects many salient truths of human life including the fact that nobody can stop the clock from ticking. The second reason is that he allocated to me a very good part of Tam o’ Shantar so that I could practice beautiful Scottish accent.
My line starts like this;
“Nae man can tether time or tide. The hour approaches Tam maun ride.”
Indeed, the 29th of March deadline will likely be extended. But you cannot change the fact that the clock is continuing to tick for Brexit.
On that note I would like to begin my lecture on the second B-word.
My lecture’s title is "International organisational response to new global challenges"