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A major part of the Society's charitable objectives are fulfilled by the creation of a Scholarship Fund designed to support the development in young people of the essential business skills needed to work effectively in Japan and through Japan, in East Asia.
The fund is named after Aberdeen Asset Management the major sponsor of the Scholarship and Thomas Blake Glover (1836-1911), the Scottish born entrepreneur. His career in Asia began with Jardine, Matheson & Co in Hong Kong from where he went to Japan. He created Glover and Co. in Nagasaki in 1859, and was most successful in helping the modernisation process ushered in by the Meiji Period (1868-1912). He also left some tangible results in the form of a brewery that later became the Kirin Beer brand and is associated with the Mitsubishi group of corporations. For decades, Kirin was the best selling beer in Japan and still remains a leading force in the market. Glover House in Nagasaki draws thousands of visitors every year, which makes Glover a powerful symbol of the Scottish presence in Japan in the second half of the nineteenth century.
Other Scots made various important contributions in the fields of civil engineering, education and public administration, but Glover remains the symbol of commercial involvement and enterprise.
The Japanese language and the business culture of Japan are inextricably linked and as a minimum requirement for any serious business involvement need to be understood and assimilated. Large numbers of young Chinese are flocking to Japan to study the language. Indeed, Chinese nationals are securing work in the UK often because they are fluent in both English and Japanese and can operate effectively in Japan. As the world's economic centre of gravity moves further east, the importance of the Japanese language should be more apparent if the Chinese consider it, in many cases, to be almost as important as English.
For details of the Scholarship and the timetable please follow this link.
Two students awarded Scholarships to Study In Japan This Summer
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The short list for the 2010 Thomas Blake Glover Aberdeen Asset Scholarship, which enables one Scottish student to study the Japanese language in Tokyo, was so strong that two scholarships have been awarded. Twenty four year old Carolyn Ruxton of Ellon in Aberdeenshire has been awarded the 2010 business scholarship to study at the International Christian University of Tokyo this summer. However, interview panelists were so impressed with 19 year old Glaswegian first year student Lloyd Conaghan that a second award was created to enable him to study at Yamaguchi University in Yamaguchi.
Carolyn Ruxton (24) is currently studying for a Master of Architecture at Scott Sutherland School of Architecture at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. Born in Dingwall, Carolyn moved to Ellon during her primary school years and later became deputy head girl at Ellon Academy. Carolyn has previously spent a year in Shenzhen in China on professional work experience in an architectural practice as part of her degree course.
Glaswegian Lloyd Conaghan (19) was born in the city and is currently living at home with his parents while he completes his first year studying psychology, business and management and economic and social history. On top of his degree studies, Lloyd is teaching himself Japanese for up to four hours a day via a programme of self study.
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, David Russell either by email Japan Society of Scotland or write to him at 27 Murrayfield Gardens, Edinburgh EH12 6DG, Scotland, UK.