The Japan Society of Scotland

A Winter Tour in Southern Japan – Guest Speaker Jackie Reid

Event by JSOS.

Date – 7th October 2024 at 7pm

Venue – University of Edinburgh, 50 George Square – Room G.05

Guest Speaker – Jackie Reid

Join us for an evening with Jackie Reid who will kindly share her experience of travelling from Taiwan through the Ryukyu Kingdom (Okinawa), Kyushu and Shikoku by bicycle during winter 2024 including: Taking time out to WWOOF on route. Island hopping north from Okinawa to Kyushu by ferry. Meeting Henro’s in Shikoku. Experiencing the Nakasendo trail in Gifu.

About the speaker:

My first experience of Japan was on the JET Programme 1991-1994. I worked for the
local board of education in rural Nagano prefecture team teaching with Japanese junior high school teachers. At the same time, I raced MTB all over Japan winning many national titles. Following a career in IT and Operations Management in the fashion industry I found myself back in Japan in 2022 working for a UK brand in Harajuku, Tokyo.

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JET AA Summer Japanese Festival 2024

The Japanese Summer Festival weekend in Scotland is over … and what a great time we all had. Congratulations to Zeljka Letica, Chair of JET AA Scotland and her team for organising and pulling it all together, and to Shambellie House Trustees and staff for being wonderful hosts … a marvellous venue. Thanks also to all the various performers, presenters, participants and volunteers, but most of all, the visitors who came to take part and sample some of the beauty of Japan and its traditions, culture and friendship. Special thanks too, to the Consulate General of Japan in Edinburgh for their support and a particular mention to Colin Smyth MSP for South Scotland and Convenor of the Scottish Cross-Party Group on Japan, who visited with his family.

We were especially delighted to those young people who submitted entries for the Manga Drawing competition and took part in the Cosplay competition, for which JSoS sponsored the prizes. Old friendships were renewed, and new friendships forged, it was a special weekend indeed. We couldn’t have wished for better weather on the Saturday … glorious sunshine. Sunday weather had other ideas, but the rain didn’t dampen our spirits and made for a great indoor gathering and a slight break in the clouds offered an opportunity for some outside demonstrations.

JSoS Council members Ian, Helen (also a JET) and Callum were on hand to offer brief talks and show a variety of Japanese kimonos, yukatas, fans, geta and toys which the children tried. There were great Tombola prizes too, donated by many individuals, resulting in over £450 being raised for Japan Red Cross Earthquake Victim Appeal. Shambellie House Trustees organised a Raffle with more super prizes and proceeds going to Shambellie House.

We all thoroughly enjoyed meeting many of the participants taking part in the various events and learning more about Japan. Scotland really does have a rich and wide connection with Japan, and we hope to help to broaden this further. Enjoy the selection of photos, giving a flavour of the weekend. Katy

The competition winners were..

Cosplay: Ella Drysdale & Millie McQueen

Manga Drawing: Secondary School Winner: Erin Caldwell

Primary School Winner: Millie McQueen

Primary School Runner Up: Temperance Hughes

Consolation prize: Jack True

Activities included: Japanese Tea Tasting, Sake Tasting, Calligraphy, Bon Odori Dance, Shamisen and Song performance, Koto and Song performance, Folk Song and Dance performance, Sashiko and Boro Stitching, Kimono and Yukata dressing, Japanese Toys, Children’s Games, Kamishibai storytelling, Haiku poetry, Kurinuki Pottery demonstration, Origami, John McKenna Photography exhibition, Painting and Kimono exhibition and talk, Puppet exhibition, Kyudo Archery demonstration, Clan Sumo Scotland Sumo Wrestling demonstration, Aikido, Karate, Bonsai exhibition, Love and Whisky exhibition. JSoS Talks: The First Scots in Japan, Japanese Soccer and the Scottish Connection, Bunraku & Kabuki, Noh & Kyogen.

Check out the ITV news coverage…

The Henry Dyer Collection – Members Only Private Viewing – Sep 2024

On the 4th of September, a small group of ten members gathered for a private viewing of The Henry Dyer Collection at the Central Library Edinburgh. This was kindly suggested and organised by JSoS members and we were delighted that Deputy Consul General Ishii (Consulate General of Japan in Edinburgh) was able to join us.

We also welcomed a very special guest, Lesley Hart, who is the nearest living relative to Henry Dyer. Her late brother Professor Robin Hunter had researched their family history and developed the website: https://www.henrydyer.org.uk

The viewing was led by Bronwen Brown, Library Development Leader Art & Design and Music Collections at the Central Library Edinburgh, and her colleague Jen was on hand to show the many woodblock prints, postcards and photographs on display. It was a lovely afternoon, a mixture of viewing and conversation. The collection included a facsimile scroll, the original being housed in The National Museum of Scotland, so after the event, a few of us walked to the museum to view it (final photograph).

It was so nice to have the opportunity of seeing the collection and meeting members. We were especially fortunate to have Lesley join us and relate some personal stories from her Great Grandmother, Janet Dyer, who was Henry Dyer’s sister.

We are hoping to arrange another members’ only visit next year to view the Henry Dyer Collection at The Mitchell Library Glasgow.

Reception with the Japanese Community & Friends of Japan, in the presence of HM the Emperor of Japan

On Monday the 24th of June during the state visit of HM the Emperor of Japan Chairman Ian Gow and Hon Secretary Katy Gow were honoured to be invited and represent JSOS at the Reception with the Japanese Community & Friends of Japan, in the presence of HM the Emperor of Japan.

This reception was hosted by the Japan Society UK and more pictures and information can be found on their website through this link: https://www.japansociety.org.uk/newsitem?news=253&newscat=3

PAST EVENT: Mister Timeless Blyth – An evening with Prof. Alan Spence

Past event by JSOS.

Held on the 10th June 2024 at 7pm

Guest Speaker – Prof. Alan Spence

Such a lovely evening with Alan Spence … not a powerpoint in sight, just a wonderful account of Alan’s research process and eureka moment, discovering an archive of Blyth’s papers. With readings from his book, to whet our appetite, and an opportunity to obtain a signed copy of “Mister Timeless Blyth” and chat with him and his wife Janini. Thank you Alan.

Mister Timeless Blyth – An evening with Prof. Alan Spence

Event by JSOS.

Date – 10th June 2024 at 7pm

Venue – University of Edinburgh, 50 George Square – Project Room 1.06

Guest Speaker – Prof. Alan Spence

We are pleased to announce our June event. We will be welcoming Professor Alan Spence ORS to talk about his latest book “Mister Timeless Blyth”.

This will be an opportunity to meet the author and chat with other JSOS members and friends. Refreshments will be available will be available so please do come along. Doors open at 6:30pm.

Copies of the book are available at Citadel Books Edinburgh – link below:

Scotland’s Bookshops – Citadel Books, Edinburgh – Scottish Review of Books

This talk will be an in-person event and also streamed on Zoom.

Click here to sign up for the in-person event…

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Joe Honda Photography Exhibition

A MESSAGE FROM OUR SECRETARY

It’s been a busy weekend for Japan-related activities. JSOS Council members were invited to attend the private viewing of The Photography of Joe Honda exhibition at the Jim Clark Motorsport Museum (JCMM) at Duns. Family and friends of The Jim Clark Trust alongside motorsport enthusiasts were there to see the framed photographs, which Emiko Jozuka, daughter of Joe Honda, had painstakingly selected for this special exhibition, from a huge 35mm film collection which the legendary Japanese motorsport photographer captured: “I’m thrilled that the images from the race that launched my father, Joe Honda’s, life of global adventure are on display”. JSOS was very pleased to be able to offer support to Emiko for this project. The photographs are a wonderful reminder of that period in the mid-1960s when access to such events was much more relaxed than today and sponsorship was less prominent in terms of logos and brand images.

Joe Honda has captured and sealed the moments in time that now give us a glimpse into that era. Museum Manager, Fiona Colton, opened with a warm welcome to all and outlined the work of Joe Honda and thanked Emiko for compiling the exhibition prints. Japanese Vice Consul General Minori Ishii, also expressed her gratitude to Emiko Jozuka and JCMM for the chance to see these images in a very special setting alongside the museum exhibits of Jim Clark’s life and career, including the phenomenal Trophy Room. An added surprise was the unveiling of the “Golden Helmet” awarded to Jim Clark on the occasion of him winning the Formula One World Championship and Indianapolis 500 in 1965. The helmet had recently been given to the museum by the Clark family and unveiled by Jim Clark’s niece Nicola Peddie together with VCG Ishii.

We had the chance to chat to other guests and JSOS Chairman Ian Gow is pictured shaking hands and chatting to David Runciman who farms the former Clark farm. I’m pictured with Assistant Curator Andrew Tulloch. Many thanks to all for the wonderful day of magical memories and particular thanks to Emiko, the Jim Clark family and the JCMM for a special day where Motorsport met photography met Japan. It was a super day out and the museum is well worth a visit. I especially liked the “Kabuto” presented to Jim Clark on the occasion of his visit to Japan in 1966 to advise on the Mt Fuji Speedway track.

– Katy

For more info visit:

Joe Honda Photography: https://www.facebook.com/joehondahisworks

The Jim Clark Motorsport Museum: https://jimclarktrust.com/jim-clark…/exhibition/

Japan Sakura @ Lauriston Castle – message from our Secretary

Congratulations to Dr Yuriko Arima and everyone associated with the Japan Sakura @ Lauriston Castle, for a very successful event. I visited yesterday and JSOS Vice-Chair Helen on Saturday, and it was very busy with lots of different activities, origami, tea ceremony, hina matsuri dolls, talks on Japanese culture, kimono, and a chance to try on yukata. The Sakura was sensational, and it was a real joy to see everyone soaking up the festivities. I met with the Edinburgh Branch of The Bonsai Association of Scotland, who were displaying some of their beautiful Bonsai trees and it was especially interesting to compare the three Crab Apple trees – life-size, bonsai-size and mini bonsai-size. Thank you all for a splendid show of Japanese culture and tradition. Thanks too to Helen for some of these lovely photos.

– Katy (JSOS Secretary)

The Captain and the Shogun: Finding William Adams – The Real Blue-eyed Samurai

Event by JSOS.

Date – 13th May 2024 at 7pm

Venue – University of Edinburgh, 50 George Square – Project Room 1.06

Guest Speaker – Prof. Richard Irving

Topic of the talk:

The most recent dramatization of James Clavell’s novel “Shogun” by Disney+ has renewed interest in the real story behind the fictional character of John Blackthorne, the English navigator who became a samurai. This man, who became a trusted retainer of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, was William Adams, a mariner of humble origins from Gillingham, in Kent, born in the year 1564. “Shogun” is a thrilling read, and the recent re-make is praised for its gritty realism. But, just as many of the events described in the novel are contrived or, to say the least, made-up, so too are many aspects of the stories told of William Adams. Following years of extensive research on the topic, Dr. Richard Irving will sift the fantasies and realities of the intertwined lives of John Blackthorne and Adams, and of the various accounts of this real Elizabethan era sailor/samurai. Richard’s talk will present many contemporary maps and images rarely seen before and conclude with comments on the recent excavation of Adams’ grave in Japan, a project in which the speaker was directly involved.

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About the Guest Speaker:

Richard Irving graduated from Sheffield University in 1976 having read geography and Japanese studies. After two years at the University of Kyoto where he conducted research into rural depopulation, he returned to Sheffield to complete his PhD. Later, he went on to lecture in the Department of Geography and Geology at the University of Hong Kong, followed by almost 25 years spent as professor at the School of Policy Studies at Kwansei Gakuin University near Kobe. He retired in 2019 and now lives near Bath in Somerset.

Richard’s achievements include walking the entire length of the Nakasendo highway in the early 1990s, a project which led to him co-founding the successful tour company WalkJapan. More recently he has been writing a series of books on the life of William Adams, the fifth and final one of which will be published shortly.

State visit by the Emperor and Empress of Japan to the UK

The Royal Family have announced that His Majesty the King has invited the Emperor and Empress of Japan to pay a state visit to the UK. They will be staying at Buckingham Palace in late June of 2024.

For more information, click here to see The Royal Family’s Facebook page.