Our main launch events centred around Rugby and doing business with Japan.  ORFC (Orkney Rugby Football Club) and OIC collaborate on the Peedie Isles Rugby Festival which brings together bairns from the smaller islands so that they can enjoy of team sports and learn about rugby.  This year the programme involved an introduction to rugby in Japan, as well as a lesson in Japanese language and a special visit from Mr Eto, the Chair of the Nagasaki Rugby Football Union in Japan.  The Consul General and Mrs Takaoka also come to the Peedie Isles Rugby Festival, as did newly appointed Director of Japan Foundation in London, Eiji Taguchi.

CG Takaoka and Director Taguchi went on to participate in a business seminar hosted by OIC and with the participation of HIE and SDI where Orkney businesses and institutions shared their experiences of working with Japan and had the opportunity to ask questions and get advice.  The day concluded with a reception at the Orkney Distillery hosted by the Consul General.

May saw Orkney’s third annual celebration of Japanese Children’s Day.  Tsuchigumo Daiko returned for a series of drumming workshops with KGS and Stromness Academy students taking part, followed by a  benefit concert at the Orkney Theatre the following day, with participation by Hadhirgaan and Gemma McGregor playing shakuhachi flute.  Tsuchigumo also performed in Stromness at the Pier Arts Centre, and took part in activities at the King Street Halls in Kirkwall.  Those activities included a variety of crafts, Japanese food, games and dressing up, as well as Japanese flower arranging.

Iris is the flower associated with Boy’s Day, now Children’s Day in Japan, and in May we had two public Ikebana flower arranging demonstrations by Sogetsu School Master Deborah Hathorn, who also did a series of ikebana workshops for children, including workshops at Stenness and Orphir primary schools.