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Japanese Student Visits Aberdeen As Part Of Rotary Thomas Glover Scholarship Three Week Cultural Tour

A Japanese scholar from Nagasaki will arrive in Aberdeen on Monday 5th September to begin a three week cultural tour of Scotland. Takuya Furukawa, who studies economics at Nagasaki University, has won this year’s Rotary Thomas Glover Scholarship.

The scholarship was set up by the Aberdeen-based Balgownie Rotary Club 17 years ago to celebrate the life of Thomas Blake Glover, who was born in Fraserburgh in 1838. Known as the Scottish Samurai, Glover is largely acknowledged with opening Japan to the Western World and is recognised as a founder of modern Japanese industry with his role in the development of Mitsubishi, which is now one of the world’s largest brands.

Takuya arrives in Aberdeen on 5th September after a 20 hour journey, to be hosted by local Rotarians and their families from Balgownie Rotary Club. Takuya’s schedule includes a visit to Aberdeen Asset Management’s (Aberdeen) UK headquarters in the city of Aberdeen, and also to visit the Lord Provost on Thursday 22nd September. Aberdeen Asset Management has a business alliance with Mitsubishi in Japan. Aberdeen staff have arranged a visit to the childhood home of Glover to see memorabilia of his life. The three week educational tour also incorporates a visit to Aberdeen Asset Management’s London offices. Aberdeen Asset Management has a similar charitable fund scholarship in memory of Thomas Glover which enables Scottish students to study in Japan each year. Bill Diack of Aberdeen Asset Management, who will be accompanying Takuya to the Glover House says,

“Aberdeen Asset Management is very happy to host Takuya on his trip to the UK. As a student of economics in Japan I have no doubt that he will find a visit to our UK offices interesting and beneficial. We fully support the Rotary Thomas Glover Scholarship and hopefully these highly successful students can forge lasting relationships and emulate Glover’s ability to unite eastern and western cultures.”

The scholarship which is co sponsored by the University of Aberdeen and the Rotary Club of Aberdeen Balgownie, now in its 17th year, has fostered good relations between Aberdeen and Nagasaki. Every two years a Japanese student visits Aberdeen and in alternate years, a student from Aberdeen travels to Japan where the student is hosted by the Nagasaki Rotarians. Glover’s son Tomisaburo was a founder member of the Rotary Club of Nagasaki, which was formed in the 1930s. Erik Stien of Balgownie Rotary Club who pioneered the scholarship says,

“It will be a great honour to host Takuya in Aberdeen. The Rotary Thomas Glover Scholarship has been incredibly successful over the past 17 years and we are confident that the experience of visiting Japan or Scotland helps them significantly in building successful careers. I have no doubt that this trip will give Takuya a great base to begin his future career. Thomas Glover was a very successful businessman in Japan and over hundred years ago he brought Japanese students to Scotland to learn about our colourful history, the Rotary Club honours Glover by continuing the tradition.”

Takuya Furukawa the winner of the scholarship comments,

“I am looking forward to visiting Aberdeen and exploring the roots of Thomas Glover, who had such a great impact on Japan. This will be a great opportunity to make progress in my language skills and cultural studies for my future career. The trip is a valuable opportunity to foster good relationships between Japan and Scotland and I am very proud to have been picked for this scholarship.”

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