Consul General's Speech of Mr Callum Farquhar Decoration Ceremony
2025/7/31
On the Occasion of the Awarding of the
Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays
On Mr Callum Farquhar
Opened by Katsutoshi Takeda, Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh
Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays
On Mr Callum Farquhar
Opened by Katsutoshi Takeda, Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh
Mr Callum Farquhar, Members of Scouts Scotland and the Japan Society of Scotland, Distinguished guests, I would like to thank you all for attending today’s ceremony.
I am Katsutoshi Takeda, the Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh and today, on behalf of the Government of Japan, I have the great honour and pleasure to confer upon Mr Callum Farquhar, the Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays, in recognition of his many years of contributions to promoting youth exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and the UK.
As Regional Scout Commissioner for the East of Scotland, Mr. Farquhar has been promoting exchanges between Japan and Scotland for over 30 years and has worked hard to encourage Scouts to conduct regular, mutual visits. His efforts have led to many Scouts being able to experience both countries and even created deeper ties with local residents through homestay opportunities. For example, at the World Scout Jamboree held in Yamaguchi Prefecture in 2015, the organisation arranged homestays for 3,000 British scouts. The positive impact of these exchanges, therefore is not just confined to Scouts members and extends into the wider community.
Further evidence of these positive contributions could be seen following the Great East Japan Earthquake. Mr Farquhar was able to raise and incredible £10,000 in Scotland, which he donated to support scouts along the coast of Iwate Prefecture, which had been hit by the tsunami. Thanks to his steadfast support for scouts in the disaster-stricken areas, over 500 scouts from Japan, mainly from Iwate Prefecture, have been welcomed to Scotland and over 200 Scottish scouts have been given the opportunity to visit Japan.
It is, therefore, my pleasure and honour to confer the Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays on Mr Callum Farquhar on behalf of the Government of Japan. I wish to congratulate you and express our respect and admiration for your efforts to promote the culture of our two countries and to facilitate international youth exchange. I sincerely hope that the bonds of friendship which you have fostered between Japan, the UK and Scotland will continue to grow.
Thank you very much.
I am Katsutoshi Takeda, the Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh and today, on behalf of the Government of Japan, I have the great honour and pleasure to confer upon Mr Callum Farquhar, the Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays, in recognition of his many years of contributions to promoting youth exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and the UK.
As Regional Scout Commissioner for the East of Scotland, Mr. Farquhar has been promoting exchanges between Japan and Scotland for over 30 years and has worked hard to encourage Scouts to conduct regular, mutual visits. His efforts have led to many Scouts being able to experience both countries and even created deeper ties with local residents through homestay opportunities. For example, at the World Scout Jamboree held in Yamaguchi Prefecture in 2015, the organisation arranged homestays for 3,000 British scouts. The positive impact of these exchanges, therefore is not just confined to Scouts members and extends into the wider community.
Further evidence of these positive contributions could be seen following the Great East Japan Earthquake. Mr Farquhar was able to raise and incredible £10,000 in Scotland, which he donated to support scouts along the coast of Iwate Prefecture, which had been hit by the tsunami. Thanks to his steadfast support for scouts in the disaster-stricken areas, over 500 scouts from Japan, mainly from Iwate Prefecture, have been welcomed to Scotland and over 200 Scottish scouts have been given the opportunity to visit Japan.
It is, therefore, my pleasure and honour to confer the Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays on Mr Callum Farquhar on behalf of the Government of Japan. I wish to congratulate you and express our respect and admiration for your efforts to promote the culture of our two countries and to facilitate international youth exchange. I sincerely hope that the bonds of friendship which you have fostered between Japan, the UK and Scotland will continue to grow.
Thank you very much.