Address from Consul General Takaoka: Third meeting of Cross Party Group on Japan at the Scottish Parliament

Thank you very much Mr. Lockhart for inviting me to this important meeting of Cross Party Group once again and for Group's very appropriate choice to focus upon seafood and rugby as the most promising areas for Japan Scotland cultural exchange.

Regarding those two subjects, I would like to only add that tariff on Salmon import into Japan is reduced from 3.5% to 2.9% and eventually to 2.7% in accordance with the Japan EU Economic Partnership Agreement entered into force in February this year,

Future arrangements depends upon what will happen with Brexit, but I would like to underline that there are strong political wills on the both sides of Japan and UK to maintain and even promote stronger economic relations in the future.

Currently in Japan, the Scottish national team is enjoying warm hospitality at its base in Nagasaki whose citizens are hoping for their best outcome. I have just received a letter from Mr. Taue, the Mayor of Nagasaki,  expressing his support for the team and thanking the reciprocal hospitality extended by the generous host families in Aberdeen to 14 Japanese boys and girls who enjoyed their first ever visit to Scotland this summer on the city’s exchange program.

Regarding rugby itself, my prediction for the match at Shizuoka Stadium this Saturday is, sorry Ireland, Japan will avenge for Scotland.


In my belief remarks today, I would like to draw your attention to several beautiful examples of great cultural collaboration between Japan and Scotland which I have personally observed in the past one year since this cross-party group was established.

In the field of architecture, the V&A Dundee, Architect Kuma Kengo's masterpiece, opened by the First Minister exactly one year before and then officially opened again by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge,  celebrated its 1st birthday last week.

To mark the occasion, Mr Kuma returned to Dundee after one year and revealed in his talk that the he had got an inspiration from the wild Orkney coastlines scenery to come up with that museum's unique and overwhelming design.

I was fascinated to learn that the V&A Dundee literally embodies the spirit of Scottish nature combined with Japanese aesthetic values. I am also glad to learn from its Director, Mr. Phillip Long that the popularity of V&A has exceeded every expectations and that the museum has welcomed nearly one million visitors already.

Another beautiful example of cultural combination between us was produced by Glasgow Boys in the 19th century; Japonism and Scottish Impressionism. Their artworks with full of light and colours have attracted many visitors at Kelvingrove Art Gallery in Glasgow.


I would also like to mention that Broughton House in Kirkcudbright, former house and atelier of EA Hornel, where I joined the opening ceremony of its new permanent exhibition last month displaying Japanese items and photographs which Hornel himself had collected during his one and half year stay in Japan more than one hundred years ago.

This combination of Japanese sensibility and peace of mind can also be experienced if you visit the Japanese Garden in Cowden, Clackmannanshire, which was completely renovated and opened to the public again back in July. It is simply incredible that more than 100 years ago, the visionary female adventurer, Ms. Ella Christie, decided to create a Japanese garden by inviting a Japanese professor to Scotland to commission the garden following her visit to Kyoto.

I can only thank Ella's great, great-niece, Sara Stewart for her decision to restore the garden and let me plant cherry trees in the garden, alongside local MP the Right Honourable Luke Graham, as part of the 2019-2020 UK Japan Season of Culture’s Sakura Project--making it one of numerous UK wide sites that plans to have over 5000 cherry trees planted.

Another great Scottish woman whose great personal decision in the past was remembered was Ms.Rita Cowan from Kirkintilloch. Exactly 100 years ago, she met her future husband, Mr. Masataka Taketsuru in Glasgow, where he was studying the art of distilling whisky as the first Japanese to do so.

The rest is a history, featured in a household name TV series of NHK, Japanese equivalent of BBC, starting with Rita's brave decision to accompany her husband to Japan despite her family's objection and ending with a success story of Mr.Taketsuru founding Nikka Whisky, a world famous award winning distillery and Rita, dubbed as “Mother of Japanese whisky".

This incredible episode was applauded by everybody who attended a centenary dinner held in Kirkintilloch last month hosted by Spirit of Alba with the presence of Provost Allan Brown and Rita's relatives.

These series of impressive lists just within the past one year continues with such important names like the South Aryreshire Fiddle Orchestra, which completed a very successful tour in Japan this summer, the performance by sixty boys and girls were warmly received by so many Japanese audience including those who gathered at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park to pray for the world without nuclear weapons.

I have to also thank Lord Charles Bruce for hosting a memorable event at his magnificent residence of Broomhall in April to celebrate the enthronement of the Japanese new Emperor and the start of the new era of Reiwa in Japan. Our convenor Mr. Lockhart and other important political leaders kindly participated.


This event carried historical significance because Lord Bruce’s great great grandfather, the 8th Earl of Elgin headed the British Empire’s delegation to Japan in 1858 to negotiate and conclude a treaty which opened diplomatic and commercial relations between the two countries.

Many universities are engaged in exchange programs;  in the alphabetical order, Universities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Napier, Robert Gordon, Stirling, on the Scottish side and Universities of Hokkaido, Keio, Kobe, Kyoto, Ritsumeikan and Waseda on the Japanese side. It’s safe to say the next generation of educated Scots and Japanese will also continue to forge new historical links between our two nations.

All these beautiful and fascinating stories somehow happened or developed during these 11 months since I arrived in this wonderful city of Edinburgh. I am immensely thankful to the incredibly rich history of friendship between Japan and Scotland as well as so many great friends of Japan around this table and beyond.

And there are even more to come.

After joining Hearts Midlothian two weeks ago, Ryotaro Meshino already scored a goal and is aiming to become Meshino or Messi of Scotland, anyway following the footsteps of Shunsuke Nakamura of Celtic FC.
 
Next month will witness the hugely popular Scotland Loves Anime film festival marking its 10th year. As a testament to the Scottish importance in Anime, a total of 10 UK premiers and even one European Premiere will be screened in Edinburgh and Glasgow with participations of Japanese writers and directors.

Yesterday morning, I was flying over the densely fogged  sky of Kirkwall for more than two hours together with my fellow passengers of Logan Air in my desperate and eventually in vain attempt to attend the Arctic Policy Framework in Orkney to be chaired by Minister Fiona Hyslop. But the promising development in Orkney this year was the establishment of Japan Orkney Society whose chair is our colleague, Liam McArthur MSP. I understand that the society is aiming to launch a major cultural event next year.

These wonderful lists of achievements and future plans are now being reviewed by Mr. Peter Bourhill, the editor of Edinburgh Life so that they will be incorporated in the next issue of his magazine, featuring Japan to be published in November. Please check shelves of your nearby bookstores or supermarkets.

My time in Edinburgh will be spent ensuring this mutual exchanges between our two countries is amplified and continues to grow. Thank you for listening and I hope you can enjoy some of the fine Japanese sake I have brought for us all to enjoy again, later. Thank you.