Japanese and European culture celebrated at Holyrood

26 September 2005

Japan's Consul-General Shuhei Takahashi

Overseas visitors have been welcomed to the Scottish Parliament to celebrate Japanese and European culture.

The Consul-General of Japan, Shuhei Takahashi, arranged a food tasting event which invited EU member states to showcase samples of their national dishes at Holyrood.

The event, on Thursday 22 September, was organised to celebrate the EU-Japan Year of People to People Exchanges, showcased culinary delights from France, Italy, Japan, Poland, Scotland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Spain and Slovenia.

Presiding Officer George Reid and Mr Takahashi welcomed more than 150 invited guests to the event, which took place in the Parliament’s Garden Lobby.

Food from across Europe and Japan was on show

Mr Takahashi said: "Food is the best means for people to be acquainted and to understand each other’s cultures. Now that I see everyone gathered here meeting each other in the Scottish Parliament, I think it was a very good idea."

Presiding Officer George Reid said: "This event will allow us all to learn a little more about who we are, who you are and how we can all live together with global diversity in today’s worldwide marketplace."

The overall aim of the 2005 Year of People to People Exchanges is to develop exchanges, contact and understanding between people in Japan and the European Union, in keeping with the aims of the Action Plan for EU-Japan Cooperation signed in December 2001.