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WELCOME TO THE JAPAN SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND WEBSITE.

We will be adding to the web site for the Japan Society of Scotland over the coming months. In the meantime, if you wish to find out more about the Society, you can download our brochure by clicking here or just contact the Membership Secretary, Tim Steward either by email Japan Society of Scotland or write to him at 21/5 Leopold Place, Edinburgh EH7 5LB, Scotland, UK.

New Honorary Patron for the Society

Lord Charles Bruce Honorary Patron Japan Society of Scotland A new Honorary Patron has joined the Japan Society of Scotland. Lord Charles Bruce of Elgin and Kincardine, son of His Grace the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine graciously accepted the invitation of the Council on behalf of the Society in April of this year. The Consul General and Mrs. Suganuma kindly hosted a small welcome party for Lord and Lady Bruce and the Council members at his residence on Tuesday April 29. The Society is grateful for his support, especially in this 150th anniversary of the signing of the first Treaty of Amity and Commerce between Britain and Japan in 1858. The signatory on behalf of the United Kingdom was the Earl of Elgin, Lord Bruce's direct ancestor.

The Society welcomes him most warmly.

Arrival of the new Consul General of Japan Mr. Kenichi Suganuma, September, 2007

The Japan Society of Scotland extended a warm welcome to Mr. & Mrs Suganuma, and their family, and express their hope that their time in Scotland will be a happy experience.

He is fluent in English, French and Japanese and is married with two children

Message from Mr. Suganuma, Consul General of Japan, in Edinburgh

Consul General Suganuma I am delighted to be posted to the beautiful and hospitable country of Scotland, which shares a long history with Japan, and with which Japan has very dynamic economic, cultural and academic relationships.

Since I arrived in Scotland on the 9th of September, I was welcomed with unusually good weather, which I have enjoyed whilst out and about paying a number of courtesy visits. Every day I am discovering the friendliness of the Scottish people and other aspects of the charm of Scotland, and also, the sometimes hidden ties that exist between Japan and Scotland.

My task is to promote links between Japan and Scotland, be they of a political, economic, cultural or academic nature. I will try to help promote existing projects, to provide ideas and connect people to plan new ones, to unearth hidden ties and reinvigorate stale ones.

The Japan Society of Scotland has been an important organization in Scotland in promoting the ties between Scotland and Japan. I recently visited Professor Picken at his home while he was still recovering from his injuries and had a very good discussion about the future scope of cooperation between the Consulate General and the Society. The Society also organized a very warm welcome party for my wife and I on 24th September, at which we had the opportunity to meet with many members.

I am looking to work with the Society towards our common goals, and I believe that we can be very confident about achieving great success. With your assistance, I also hope to learn more and more about Scotland and its people. Let me wish greater health, happiness and prosperity to Professor Picken and to all the members of the Japan Society of Scotland and their families.

MR SUGANUMA

Mr Suganuma is a graduate of the Faculty of Law, University of Tokyo and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University. In his Professional Career he worked in the following positions

1978 Joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1981-83 Japanese Delegation to the OECD, Paris
1988-89 Senior Political Advisor, UN Good Offices Mission in Afghanistan and Pakistan (on Secondment to the UN)
1989-92 First Secretary, Embassy of Japan in Belgium
1993-95 Director for Non-Proliferation, Arms Control and Scientific Affairs Bureau, MOFA
1995-97 Director for International Energy, Economic Affairs Bureau, MOFA, Member of the IEA Board of Governor
1997-98 Director for OECD Division, Economic Affairs Bureau, MOFA,
1998-2000 Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna
2000-03 Minister, Head of the Economic Department, Embassy of Japan in Russia
2003-05 Minister and Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Japan in Singapore
2005-06 Deputy Assistant Vice-Minister (Crisis Management), MOFA
2006-07 Deputy Director-General, Consular Affairs Bureau, Deputy Director-General for Global Issues, International Cooperation Bureau, MOFA
August 2007 Appointed Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh

At a previous Annual General Meeting of the Society, it was proposed that we should adopt a new constitution and register the Society as a charity. Follow this link to look at the new constitution, our reasons for proposing it and to make any comments on it to the Constitutional sub-committee.

You may also wish to visit the website of the Consulate General of Japan in Scotland for detailed information on Visa requirements for Japan, the JETTA Programme and other information on Japan.

Honours from the Government of Japan

Reverend Professor Stuart D B Picken receiving the Order of the Sacred Teasure

On the 4 December, 2007, Consul General Suganuma, on behalf of the Japanese Government, conferred The Order of the Sacred Treasure on the Reverend Professor Stuart D B Picken, Chair of the Council of the Japan Society of Scotland for his outstanding contribution to the promotion of friendship and mutual understanding between Japan and the UK. The honour is normally only awarded to Japanese citizens and is a mark of the very high repect in which Dr Picken is held by the Japanese Government. We congratulate Stuart on this well deserved award in recognition of his contribution to Japan - Scotland relationships.

visitors since 28/2/08