Consul General's Speech of Professor Gow Commendation Ceremony

令和3年8月12日
Professor Ian Gow and family, Professor Aaron Moore, Dr. Helen Parker, Mr. James Roy, Mr. David Russell, Ambassador Seiichiro Otsuka and Dr Taeko Seki kindly joining us from Japan online, ladies and gentlemen.
 
My name is Nozomu Takaoka, the Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh since 2018.  Today I have the honour and pleasure, on behalf of the Government of Japan, to confer upon Professor Ian Gow OBE the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon in recognition of his long and precious contribution to Japan-UK relations through his academic career by promoting Japanese studies as well as exchanges and friendship between the two countries for over 50 years.
 
Although this ceremony is too brief to describe the long list of his significant records as a globally recognised Japanese specialist, I will try to elaborate on some of his academic achievements.
 
Professor Gow’s relationship with Japan started in his 20s when he served as a young marine in the Royal Navy for seven years mostly in the Asia Pacific region.  This exposure to the region fortunately sparked his academic interest, which he continued to cherish during his MA course at the University of Edinburgh and then onto a PhD course at the University of Sheffield.
 
During his time at Sheffield he won a Monbusho Scholarship of the Japanese government at Osaka Gaigo University and Doshisha University and research council funding to be a visiting scholar at the Shakai Kagaku Kenyujo of the Tokyo University from 1979 to 1980. Personally, this means I may have even passed by Scholar Gow on the Hongo Campus.
 
Thereafter, he worked at Aston University where he helped to develop the university's Japanese studies programme and its Japanese language degree. I suspect that Professor Gow’s experience at Aston must have enabled him to develop a successful model which he would go on to replicate and refine over the years at further institutions.
 
Then, he moved to the University of Warwick where he was instrumental in creating a Japanese business research unit and a course teaching Japanese business policy.  He also helped to secure funding to strengthen the university's Japanese studies portfolio.
 
While continuing his academic research, Professor Gow maintained his involvement with business activities. This was useful in the 1980s when Japanese companies were flocking to the UK under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as a gateway to the European market. He shortly worked with Sumitomo Rubber Industries in the West Midlands and during his time at Warwick he assisted British companies in their projects with Japanese companies such as Austin Rover's collaboration with Honda.
 
Professor Gow's work at Warwick came to the attention of the University of Stirling.  In 1987 he was invited to head the development of a Japanese Studies department at Stirling. With the university's business department he also created the first ever university degree course on Japan in Scotland in 1987 and the first ever Japanese business degree in the UK in 1988.
 
I should conclude that these achievements significantly boosted Japanese studies in Scotland and the UK.  He became Scotland's first professor of Japanese studies as well as the university's Deputy Principal.
 
Professor Gow was then invited to return to the University of Sheffield in 1993 where he became its Chairman of the Graduate School of East Asian Studies.  During his second tenure at Sheffield, he expanded the department and launched a range of new degree courses focusing on East Asian languages and commerce and set up a research school for East Asia.
 
Then he became the head of the University of Nottingham's Business School.  Whilst there he helped develop the university's East Asian studies programme and links with the region as well as establishing an East Asian businesses course and a Japanese language department.
 
He then moved onto the University of the West Midlands where he was Pro-Vice Chancellor and Dean of its Business School.
 
Professor Gow subsequently moved to China.  There, he headed two academic institutions, including the Chinese campus of the University of Nottingham, the first university in mainland China to establish a European connection.
 
Fortunately for all of us, he then returned to his beloved home of Scotland.  He is presently an Emeritus Professor of East Asian Studies at the University of Edinburgh where he continues to contribute by lecturing in Japanese political economy and Japanese foreign policy.
 
During his academic career Professor Gow's achievements were recognised by the UK government and he was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 2007.
 
Professor Gow has written and authored a number of books and articles on Japan.  As his academic focus on Japanese naval history, most notably naval strategy developed by Admiral Kanji Kato, overlaps with my personal interest as a student of international relations, I would like to summarise the political significance of Professor Gow’s achievement in two aspects.
 
In the first instance, we must remember that in the context of world politics 100 years ago, naval strategy was key to the ascendance to the status of the global power just as nuclear, space and cyber strategy are assuming the similar position in present world affairs.
 
 
Therefore, revisiting Kanji Kato’s strategy in a proper context carries significant importance in deepening the understanding of present global politics. I hope that we will have an opportunity to learn even more from Professor Gow in this respect.
 
Secondly, Professor Gow’s deep understanding of East Asian security situations combined with his experience in working with Chinese academic institutions should be highly appreciated. I personally believe that we can also benefit from his wisdom in promoting academic exchanges in social studies in East Asian context.
 
Professor Gow’s contribution doesn’t stop within academic fields. As the unprecedented two-time Chairman of the Japan Society of Scotland, firstly from 1985 until 1993 and secondly since 2019, he has worked hard to promote links between Scotland and Japan including this challenging time during the pandemic.  I am particularly thankful for his leading role in revitalising lecture projects online and continuing the precious society's scholarships. I would also like to take this opportunity to recognise all those wonderful achievements the society has accomplished in its 35 years of history with the precious participation of all the people here with us today.
 
Also since 2019 he has been an active member of the Cross Party Group on Japan which was launched at the Scottish Parliament in the same year.  As a member he continues to provide Scottish politicians and businesses with his insights on Japan, for which I am also grateful.
 
I cannot conclude my speech without referring to the yearlong support of Mrs Gow who is also kindly with us today.  I know how important wives’ support is for any successful husband in this particular case just by attending in person and online, seminars of the Japan Society of Scotland where Katy is a regular friendly participant.
 
In concluding, let me express once again how I am delighted to confer this important award today to such a distinguished person as Professor Gow, recognising his great contribution to Japanese Studies and to the wider cause of strengthening and deepening relations between Japan with both Scotland and the UK.
 
Thank you very much.
Professor Ian Gow and family, Professor Aaron Moore, Dr. Helen Parker, Mr. James Roy, Mr. David Russell, Ambassador Seiichiro Otsuka and Dr Taeko Seki kindly joining us from Japan online, ladies and gentlemen.
 
My name is Nozomu Takaoka, the Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh since 2018.  Today I have the honour and pleasure, on behalf of the Government of Japan, to confer upon Professor Ian Gow OBE the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon in recognition of his long and precious contribution to Japan-UK relations through his academic career by promoting Japanese studies as well as exchanges and friendship between the two countries for over 50 years.
 
Although this ceremony is too brief to describe the long list of his significant records as a globally recognised Japanese specialist, I will try to elaborate on some of his academic achievements.
 
Professor Gow’s relationship with Japan started in his 20s when he served as a young marine in the Royal Navy for seven years mostly in the Asia Pacific region.  This exposure to the region fortunately sparked his academic interest, which he continued to cherish during his MA course at the University of Edinburgh and then onto a PhD course at the University of Sheffield.
 
During his time at Sheffield he won a Monbusho Scholarship of the Japanese government at Osaka Gaigo University and Doshisha University and research council funding to be a visiting scholar at the Shakai Kagaku Kenyujo of the Tokyo University from 1979 to 1980. Personally, this means I may have even passed by Scholar Gow on the Hongo Campus.
 
Thereafter, he worked at Aston University where he helped to develop the university's Japanese studies programme and its Japanese language degree. I suspect that Professor Gow’s experience at Aston must have enabled him to develop a successful model which he would go on to replicate and refine over the years at further institutions.
 
Then, he moved to the University of Warwick where he was instrumental in creating a Japanese business research unit and a course teaching Japanese business policy.  He also helped to secure funding to strengthen the university's Japanese studies portfolio.
 
While continuing his academic research, Professor Gow maintained his involvement with business activities. This was useful in the 1980s when Japanese companies were flocking to the UK under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as a gateway to the European market. He shortly worked with Sumitomo Rubber Industries in the West Midlands and during his time at Warwick he assisted British companies in their projects with Japanese companies such as Austin Rover's collaboration with Honda.
 
Professor Gow's work at Warwick came to the attention of the University of Stirling.  In 1987 he was invited to head the development of a Japanese Studies department at Stirling. With the university's business department he also created the first ever university degree course on Japan in Scotland in 1987 and the first ever Japanese business degree in the UK in 1988.
 
I should conclude that these achievements significantly boosted Japanese studies in Scotland and the UK.  He became Scotland's first professor of Japanese studies as well as the university's Deputy Principal.
 
Professor Gow was then invited to return to the University of Sheffield in 1993 where he became its Chairman of the Graduate School of East Asian Studies.  During his second tenure at Sheffield, he expanded the department and launched a range of new degree courses focusing on East Asian languages and commerce and set up a research school for East Asia.
 
Then he became the head of the University of Nottingham's Business School.  Whilst there he helped develop the university's East Asian studies programme and links with the region as well as establishing an East Asian businesses course and a Japanese language department.
 
He then moved onto the University of the West Midlands where he was Pro-Vice Chancellor and Dean of its Business School.
 
Professor Gow subsequently moved to China.  There, he headed two academic institutions, including the Chinese campus of the University of Nottingham, the first university in mainland China to establish a European connection.
 
Fortunately for all of us, he then returned to his beloved home of Scotland.  He is presently an Emeritus Professor of East Asian Studies at the University of Edinburgh where he continues to contribute by lecturing in Japanese political economy and Japanese foreign policy.
 
During his academic career Professor Gow's achievements were recognised by the UK government and he was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 2007.
 
Professor Gow has written and authored a number of books and articles on Japan.  As his academic focus on Japanese naval history, most notably naval strategy developed by Admiral Kanji Kato, overlaps with my personal interest as a student of international relations, I would like to summarise the political significance of Professor Gow’s achievement in two aspects.
 
In the first instance, we must remember that in the context of world politics 100 years ago, naval strategy was key to the ascendance to the status of the global power just as nuclear, space and cyber strategy are assuming the similar position in present world affairs.
 
 
Therefore, revisiting Kanji Kato’s strategy in a proper context carries significant importance in deepening the understanding of present global politics. I hope that we will have an opportunity to learn even more from Professor Gow in this respect.
 
Secondly, Professor Gow’s deep understanding of East Asian security situations combined with his experience in working with Chinese academic institutions should be highly appreciated. I personally believe that we can also benefit from his wisdom in promoting academic exchanges in social studies in East Asian context.
 
Professor Gow’s contribution doesn’t stop within academic fields. As the unprecedented two-time Chairman of the Japan Society of Scotland, firstly from 1985 until 1993 and secondly since 2019, he has worked hard to promote links between Scotland and Japan including this challenging time during the pandemic.  I am particularly thankful for his leading role in revitalising lecture projects online and continuing the precious society's scholarships. I would also like to take this opportunity to recognise all those wonderful achievements the society has accomplished in its 35 years of history with the precious participation of all the people here with us today.
 
Also since 2019 he has been an active member of the Cross Party Group on Japan which was launched at the Scottish Parliament in the same year.  As a member he continues to provide Scottish politicians and businesses with his insights on Japan, for which I am also grateful.
 
I cannot conclude my speech without referring to the yearlong support of Mrs Gow who is also kindly with us today.  I know how important wives’ support is for any successful husband in this particular case just by attending in person and online, seminars of the Japan Society of Scotland where Katy is a regular friendly participant.
 
In concluding, let me express once again how I am delighted to confer this important award today to such a distinguished person as Professor Gow, recognising his great contribution to Japanese Studies and to the wider cause of strengthening and deepening relations between Japan with both Scotland and the UK.
 
Thank you very much.