Address from Consul General Takaoka: The Scottish Samurai Awards
2019/5/21
Good Afternoon,
Since my arrival as Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh half a year ago, I have heard so much about this prestigious Scottish Samurai Awards, and it gives me a great pleasure to attend its eleventh annual award ceremony today.
When I think of many proud samurai who previously received awards in this magnificent Broomhall for his or her precious contribution in promoting Japan-Scotland relations, I would like to express my sincere and deep appreciation to Mr. Ronnie Watt for his generous and long-lasting dedication and commitment to Japan-Scotland friendship which ensured the continuation of this great tradition.
Thanks to him, Scotland has now developed as a land where Samurai spirit prospers and where the bond of friendship and solidarity spreads among so many great men and women including Scots and Japanese and even other nationals.
I am so proud that I will be included in those proud Samurai as Daishogun together with Dr Joseph Morrow.
Let me say that I am also happy that I could share this auspicious occasion with all of you including my personal assistant Joanna Stuart and my personal chauffer Ian Gardner. Both of them worked in the Japanese Consulate for more than two decades, almost three decades. Without either of them I cannot function as Consul General for a single day.
Therefore, I would like to thank once again Mr. Watt and Lord Charles Bruce for realizing this great ceremony for giving us, I mean all of us gathered here today, additional strength and energy to continue our respective spiritual journeys to come closer to ideal Samurai model in this very important year of 2019 when the New Era of Reiwa started in Japan with the enthronement of His Majesty the Emperor, to which we can raise glasses with Japanese Sake later.
Let me conclude by expressing once again my deep appreciation and my best wishes for the further success of these awards in raising the Samurai spirit in Scotland and enhancing friendship between Japan and Scotland.
Since my arrival as Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh half a year ago, I have heard so much about this prestigious Scottish Samurai Awards, and it gives me a great pleasure to attend its eleventh annual award ceremony today.
When I think of many proud samurai who previously received awards in this magnificent Broomhall for his or her precious contribution in promoting Japan-Scotland relations, I would like to express my sincere and deep appreciation to Mr. Ronnie Watt for his generous and long-lasting dedication and commitment to Japan-Scotland friendship which ensured the continuation of this great tradition.
Thanks to him, Scotland has now developed as a land where Samurai spirit prospers and where the bond of friendship and solidarity spreads among so many great men and women including Scots and Japanese and even other nationals.
I am so proud that I will be included in those proud Samurai as Daishogun together with Dr Joseph Morrow.
Let me say that I am also happy that I could share this auspicious occasion with all of you including my personal assistant Joanna Stuart and my personal chauffer Ian Gardner. Both of them worked in the Japanese Consulate for more than two decades, almost three decades. Without either of them I cannot function as Consul General for a single day.
Therefore, I would like to thank once again Mr. Watt and Lord Charles Bruce for realizing this great ceremony for giving us, I mean all of us gathered here today, additional strength and energy to continue our respective spiritual journeys to come closer to ideal Samurai model in this very important year of 2019 when the New Era of Reiwa started in Japan with the enthronement of His Majesty the Emperor, to which we can raise glasses with Japanese Sake later.
Let me conclude by expressing once again my deep appreciation and my best wishes for the further success of these awards in raising the Samurai spirit in Scotland and enhancing friendship between Japan and Scotland.