Upcoming Events: The Japan Society of Scotland (6th February - 25th July)

Please see below for a list of events being hosted by the Japan Society of Scotland in 2020. We hope to see many of you there.

■ Thu 6 February at 7pm: Professor Joy Hendry - Reflections on Four Decades of Anthropological Research on Rural Japan
(Edinburgh University Meadows Lecture Theatre G.07 in the Old Medical School, Teviot Building with access via Doorway 4)

Professor Joy Hendry, emeritus professor of anthropology at Oxford Brookes University, will discuss her extensive internationally recognized work on Japanese social anthropology and especially focus on the village that has been her research base throughout her career. ​


■ Mon 9 March  at 7pm: Margaret Temple - Working with the Japanese in Business and Science 
(Edinburgh University’s Usha Kasera Lecture Theatre, Old College)

Margaret is a Scottish graduate in science and business (MBA) and a highly successful entrepreneur, company director and CEO. She will discuss her considerable experience and success working with the Japanese as well as her evaluation of Japanese developments in the Life Sciences.


■ Mon 30 March at 7pm: Professor Alan Spence - Reflections on publishing poetry and novels on Japan
(Edinburgh University Project Room, 1st Floor, 50 George Square) 

Professor Alan Spence is an internationally recognized poet, playwright and novelist and Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Aberdeen. In 2017 he was awarded Scottish writer of the year (Makar) for the second time and in 2018 was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun for his work on Japan.  
Alan will discuss his two Japan-based novels Pure Land (on Thomas Glover) and Night Boat as well as his recent trip to Japan gathering materials for his new novel Mister Timeless Blyth. He will also discuss and give some readings on his Haiku work.


■ Wed 6 May at 7pm: Professor Alan Wolstenholme - Masataka Taketsuru and the Birth of the Japanese Whisky Industry 
(Edinburgh University’s Usha Kasera Lecture Theatre, Old College)

Professor Wolstenholme of Heriot Watt's famous International Centre for Brewing and Distilling will discuss the story of Masataka Taketsuru and his training in Scotland and the establishment of Nikka Whisky. Alan will also talk about his own family and past links with the Japanese Whisky Industry.


■ Mon 25 May at 7pm: Eric Melvin - Images of Japan
(Edinburgh University Project Room, 1st Floor, 50 George Square)

Eric, one of our members, will give an illustrated talk at the University of Edinburgh on some of his many holiday visits to Japan.  This will be an interesting evening.


■ Sat 25 July at 1:30pm: Open Afternoon at International Scout Camp, Blair Atholl

Come along and meet the 23 Scouts from Iwate Prefecture who will be performing and serving their traditional Yakitori.