National Day Reception
Wednesday 6th December 2006
Mr Tom McCabe, Minister for Finance, Mr Murray Tosh, Deputy Presiding Officer, MSP’s, Mayors, Provosts, Convenors, Chief Executives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.
I am delighted you could attend this reception to celebrate the birthday of His Majesty, The Emperor of Japan. On the 23rd of December, His Majesty will be 73 years old and for the first time this year, His Majesty welcomed the birth of a grandson, Prince Hisahito.
It has been over two years since I arrived in the beautiful and historic city of Edinburgh and I continue my efforts to promote exchange between Japan and the UK in general, and between Japan and Scotland in particular.
With regards to business links, there are currently about 50 Japanese companies in Scotland and they have successfully established strong ties with the local community. In October, the Deputy First Minister, Nicol Stephen, travelled to Japan and visited the headquarters of 5 Japanese companies with operations in Scotland. I very much hope that the visit will further strengthen the economic relations between Scotland and Japan.
Also this year, the Business School of Edinburgh University, organised two lectures on the subject of the Japanese economy and its strategy of globalisation. Thanks to the hard work of the School, both lectures were a great success.
Furthermore, early next year, a seminar on investment in Japan will be held in Edinburgh hosted by JETRO, the Japan External Trade Organisation. I am extremely pleased that events such as these can help raise awareness of Japan especially when you consider that Japan is Scotland’s largest Asian export market and the 7th largest overall.
However, not all links between Japan and this country are limited to business and the economy.
This year, the Consulate General of Japan endeavoured to help raise the profile of those Scottish historical figures instrumental in the development of modern Japan. The Fraserburgh merchant, Thomas Glover, for example, is often referred to in Japan as the “founding father of Japanese modernisation” but in his homeland, he is relatively unknown.
He is credited with not only introducing such modern technology as the first railway locomotive, the first dry dock, and the first mechanised coal mine to Japan but also risked his own life by smuggling out Japanese youths to the UK to give them the chance to study. His colourful private life is also believed to have inspired Puccini’s opera Madam Butterfly.
In recognition of all these achievements and in the presence of the Lord Provost of Aberdeen City and many MSP’s, a reception to celebrate the anniversary of his birth was held in the Scottish Parliament in June for the first time. Many thanks to Mr Alex Johnstone MSP and his special advisor Mr Jim Millar for this. It is an event, I very much hope will become an annual occasion.
In addition, a new film on the historical relationship enjoyed between our two countries will be shown in Japan next spring with its primary focus on Thomas Glover and I am also delighted to say that a new novel on his life was published in August called the Pure Land. The author, Alan Spence, won the writing award at the recent Spirit of Scotland award ceremony, a wonderful accolade, I think you will agree.
I personally appreciate the role played by Glover as a true engineer of the Meiji Restoration and the subsequent modernisation of Japan, but he did much more than that. He was the first person to establish the invisible link of friendship and trust between the UK and Japan as a whole and Scotland and Japan especially, and by doing so, he paved the way for many others to follow.
One such individual was William Burton. As you might have noticed, we have a small exhibition here showing his life and achievements. Burton is greatly admired and regarded as the father of sanitary engineering in Japan. Also an accomplished photographer and designer of Japan’s first skyscrapers, he made an invaluable contribution to the installation of a modern water and sewage system in 24 major Japanese cities, including Tokyo. Undoubtedly, he saved countless lives as hundreds of Japanese people were dying of cholera every day at that time.
He was devoted to his task as Burton never once returned home during his 12 year service in Japan, and sadly died at the young age of 43 in Tokyo. He was never forgotten however. Every year, his students, and those he trained and influenced, would gather at his graveside to lay flowers and sing a Scottish song in his memory.
This year, thanks to the initiative of a group of Japanese sanitary engineers and the collaboration of many Scottish people, the 150th anniversary of his birth was celebrated in both Japan and Scotland for the first time. Commemorative events were held in Aberdeen, where Burton’s parents were from, and in Edinburgh.
The Edinburgh event included the unveiling of a plaque at Craig House, now of Napier University, where Burton use to reside and his childhood friends, Arthur Conan Doyle and Robert Louis Stevenson, frequently visited.
It is very heartening and pleasing for me to see the legacy of Scots remembered and honoured in such a way and that achievements from over 100 years ago can still inspire people today.
I was also delighted with the large number of Japanese performers participating in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer. For the first time, “Fringe Japan”, a showcase of Japanese talent was arranged, and further enhanced the profile of Japan in Scotland. For this, I must express my appreciation to the Director of the Fringe Festival.
It also gives me great pleasure to inform you that new Director of the Edinburgh International Festival is an expert on Japanese traditional culture and arts, and will shortly visit Japan. I am delighted that such a key person is knowledgeable and understanding of Japanese culture and I hope we will see a greater involvement of Japan in the festival in the years to come.
Exchange between Scotland and Japan can also be found in sports. I am encouraged to see that a Japanese football player is doing a great job in the Scottish Premier League and I have no doubt that he has raised the profile of Japan in Scotland as well as Scotland in Japan. Millions of Japanese football fans enjoy every match live, despite the 9 hour time difference, and I understand that even in Scotland, not every game is shown. It is clear that this player has made a great contribution to mutual understanding between Japan and Scotland, and the Scottish Premier League is now the 3rd most famous Scottish icon in Japan after Scotch whisky and Sean Connery!
Next year, I am confident that this cultural exchange will continue to thrive, and indeed, the Consulate General of Japan is assisting and participating in a planned World Food Festival at Gardening Scotland in June. An International Village will be erected, providing the wonderful opportunity for many different countries to promote their national cuisines, tourist destinations, fashions and crafts.
I would be delighted if you were able to join and support us in this undertaking.
Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to several people.
I greatly appreciate the hard work and dedication of Mr Ian Harkness while he was Chairman of the Japan Society of Scotland. Unfortunately, he is not here tonight, but he did a remarkable job, and I must say, I miss the excellent newsletter he use to produce!
I would also like to take this opportunity to officially welcome Professor Stuart Picken as the new chairman of the society. I hope the Consulate can continue its good relations with the society and I would urge all its members to work together to create a new chapter in the historical relations between our two countries.
I must also thank Ms Katie Targett-Adams and Phil Alexander for the splendid musical performance, and also to Deborah Hathorn for her exceptional floral displays. Thank you.
Now, Mr McCabe, Mr Tosh, MSP’s, Mayors, Provosts, Convenors, Chief Executives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to propose a toast:
To the peoples of the United Kingdom and to the peoples of Scotland.
Thank you.