Consul General Takeda visits Orkney Islands (May 2nd to 4th)
2025/5/4
From 2nd (Friday) to 4th (Sunday) May, Consul General Katsutoshi Takeda visited the Orkney Islands where he met with dignitaries and members of the Orkney Japan Association and other Orkney Islands groups. The overview of the visit is as follows:
1. Courtesy call on Liam MacArthur, Deputy Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament
On Friday 2nd May, Consul General Takeda paid a courtesy call on Liam MacArthur MSP, Deputy Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, who is also a member of the Scottish Government Cross-Party Group on Japan and Honorary Patron of the Orkney Japan Association. The pair exchanged views on cooperation between Japan and Scotland, particularly with the Orkney Islands, which is the Deputy Presiding Officer’s constituency.
2. Courtesy call on the Convenor of the Orkney Islands Council, Cllr Graham Bevan
On Friday 2nd May, Consul General Takeda paid a courtesy call on the Convenor of the Orkney Islands Council, Cllr Graham Bevan. Cllr Bevan kindly enlightened the Consul General on a wide range of topics from the history and culture of the Orkney Islands, to recent trends in renewable energy such as offshore wind power, wave and tidal power generation, and cooperation with Japan in this area. Afterwards, they both exchanged a wide range of opinions on the future direction which cooperation with Japan might take.
3. Visit to Highland Park Distillery
On Friday 2nd May, Consul General Takeda visited Highland Park Distillery accompanied by the Orkney Japan Association. Highland Park is one of the northernmost distilleries in Scotland, being founded in 1789. It is one of the few distilleries that still uses traditional floor malting.
4. Attending the Orkney Japan Association’s Board Meeting and Annual General Meeting
On Saturday 3rd May, Consul General Takeda attended the Orkney Japan Association’s Board Meeting and the Annual General Meeting that followed. During this meeting he formally accepted the appointment as Honorary Patron of the Society.
5. Visit to the Pier Arts Centre
On Saturday 3rd May, Consul General Takeda toured the Pier Arts Centre, an art museum located in Stromness. He was guided by the Centre’s Director, Mr Neil Firth, who kindly provided information about collaborative exhibitions with Japan.
6. Visit to Stromness Museum
On Saturday 3rd May, Consul General Takeda toured the Stromness Museum with the guidance of the Museum’s honorary curator Janette Park, who is also an Orkney Islands Councillor. They viewed a variety of exhibits such as Neolithic finds, items related to 19th century Orkney Arctic explorer John Rae, artefacts recovered from the scuttling of a German fleet at Scapa Flow, and artefacts recovered from sunken Royal Navy ships including the dreadnought battleship, the HMS Vanguard.
7. Visit to Environmental Consultant Aquatera
On Sunday 4th May, Consul General Takeda visited Aquatera, an environmental consultancy Agency that supports the creation of a sustainable and decarbonised society, and received a briefing from Chief Executive Officer Gareth Davies and Japanese Liaison Consultant Yuka Johnston on the current situation of the renewable energy field in Orkney and about various cooperative projects between Orkney and Japan.
1. Courtesy call on Liam MacArthur, Deputy Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament
On Friday 2nd May, Consul General Takeda paid a courtesy call on Liam MacArthur MSP, Deputy Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, who is also a member of the Scottish Government Cross-Party Group on Japan and Honorary Patron of the Orkney Japan Association. The pair exchanged views on cooperation between Japan and Scotland, particularly with the Orkney Islands, which is the Deputy Presiding Officer’s constituency.
2. Courtesy call on the Convenor of the Orkney Islands Council, Cllr Graham Bevan
On Friday 2nd May, Consul General Takeda paid a courtesy call on the Convenor of the Orkney Islands Council, Cllr Graham Bevan. Cllr Bevan kindly enlightened the Consul General on a wide range of topics from the history and culture of the Orkney Islands, to recent trends in renewable energy such as offshore wind power, wave and tidal power generation, and cooperation with Japan in this area. Afterwards, they both exchanged a wide range of opinions on the future direction which cooperation with Japan might take.
3. Visit to Highland Park Distillery
On Friday 2nd May, Consul General Takeda visited Highland Park Distillery accompanied by the Orkney Japan Association. Highland Park is one of the northernmost distilleries in Scotland, being founded in 1789. It is one of the few distilleries that still uses traditional floor malting.
4. Attending the Orkney Japan Association’s Board Meeting and Annual General Meeting
On Saturday 3rd May, Consul General Takeda attended the Orkney Japan Association’s Board Meeting and the Annual General Meeting that followed. During this meeting he formally accepted the appointment as Honorary Patron of the Society.
5. Visit to the Pier Arts Centre
On Saturday 3rd May, Consul General Takeda toured the Pier Arts Centre, an art museum located in Stromness. He was guided by the Centre’s Director, Mr Neil Firth, who kindly provided information about collaborative exhibitions with Japan.
6. Visit to Stromness Museum
On Saturday 3rd May, Consul General Takeda toured the Stromness Museum with the guidance of the Museum’s honorary curator Janette Park, who is also an Orkney Islands Councillor. They viewed a variety of exhibits such as Neolithic finds, items related to 19th century Orkney Arctic explorer John Rae, artefacts recovered from the scuttling of a German fleet at Scapa Flow, and artefacts recovered from sunken Royal Navy ships including the dreadnought battleship, the HMS Vanguard.
7. Visit to Environmental Consultant Aquatera
On Sunday 4th May, Consul General Takeda visited Aquatera, an environmental consultancy Agency that supports the creation of a sustainable and decarbonised society, and received a briefing from Chief Executive Officer Gareth Davies and Japanese Liaison Consultant Yuka Johnston on the current situation of the renewable energy field in Orkney and about various cooperative projects between Orkney and Japan.
