THE JAPAN SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND

Formed in 1986

The Japan Society of Scotland was formed by a group of academics and business people in 1986 to enhance friendship, goodwill, and cooperation between Scotland and Japan. As the years passed, these general aims became widened to include dissemination of information about Japan in Scotland, the promotion and enrichment of commercial and cultural relations, and to work together with other groups having similar interests.

Many Japan-oriented interest groups have come into being since 1986 including the Mugen Taiko Dojo, the Bonsai Association, the Japanese Residents of Scotland Association, and the Japan Exchange Teachers Association (JETA) of young people who have been invited by the Japanese government to work in Japanese high schools. Around 70 return each year with Japan experience. There are also academic centers of study in Glasgow and Edinburgh universities,

Scholarship Programme

The Society's Council warmly welcomes these developments that represent a widened interest in Japan, and salutes these groups' efforts. The Society now has the vision of promoting the in-depth study of Japan by young people from Scotland through a supporting scholarship programme. While university exchange programmes exist, the cost of transport and living expenses can be discouraging. The Society consequently wishes to fulfill its role as a registered charity by trying, through fund-raising activities as well as soliciting corporate support, to help potential Japan specialists of tomorrow start their careers.

Scotland, Japan, and East Asian Business

The Society Council also believes that an ongoing close relationship with the second largest and certainly one of the most sophisticated economies in the world would benefit all Scottish business interests in East Asia. Japan's intimate knowledge and experience of Chinese business far exceeds anything that exists anywhere in the west, and with China and Japan now major trading partners, understanding Japan becomes almost a pre-requisite to understanding East and Southeast Asia. Japan's geopolitical position is unique and with Japanese standards the benchmark of quality in that region and beyond, knowledge of Japan is essential for any growing business that aspires to global status. The Japanese economy is generally not well understood in the west because western models do not readily apply. So not only does Japan provide a challenge, but the study of Japan also offers alternative insights and solutions to many problems that affect all economies in one form or another. There is still a great deal to be learned from Japan's originality and innovation in many fields.

Annual Scheduled Events and Activities

The Society in its programme through the calendar year tries to offer a mixture of business, cultural, and social events. While the Council has endeavoured to keep a balance of geography, gender, age, and nationality in order to be representative of as many relevant interests as possible, it has tended to base its activities in Edinburgh. Future events are planned in Glasgow, Aberdeen, or indeed wherever there is sufficient interest. The Society also tries to maintain contact with the Scottish Executive and to make MSPs aware of Japan's enormous strategic value to Scotland as well as of the large and developed markets that exist in Japan. The Society has a wide range of contacts that could be of assistance to any businesses venturing into Japan and beyond.

Membership and Information

If you feel that you support these ideas, please consider joining the Society and help to further its aims as well as meet new people with varying interests in Japan. The Society also maintains links with the Japan Society of London, the Japan-Scotland Society in Tokyo, and various expatriate societies in Japan such as the Japan British Society and the St. Andrew Society of Yokohama and Tokyo. The Society also publishes two Newsletters annually for members.

Membership can be obtained by completing this form so please join us- you will be given a warm welcome.