Order of the Scottish Samurai

Ronnie Watt OSS Founding President
Alastair Walker and Linda Walker
were honoured at the beautiful Gordon Highlanders Museum memorial garden today 07.10.26

With the OSS Golden Dragonfly only forward award for services to Scotland and Japan.

Present at the award ceremony Helena Anderson Wright OSS Ambassador Scottish Culture and Burns Association.George Bowman OSS Shogun Bun Bu Ryo do Medal and Norman Fraser OSS Taisho BunBu Ryu do Medal.

From Ronnie Watt OSS Founding President Budo 10th Dan ORS

The First Samurai Award was given
to myself by the Aberdeen Sports Council in 1994.

I adopted the samurai awards in 1995
and awarded Bill Berry MBE 6th Dan Judo and in 1996 Cllr Len Ironside CBE for Wrestling.

The three Samurai Awards were presented at a special reception at Kippie Lodge Aberdeen in 1997.

The OSS Awards are FREE to all approved by the OSS Awarding Body.

If awardees wish on request they can purchase the OSS Neck Medal,Taisho Star and OSS Miniature. The award ceremony is also free and any profit given to charity or venue.

The New BunBu Ryo do medal
Is awarded free to all achieving beyond their award.

All awardees are nominated to the OSS Awarding body by an OSS Ambassador,OSS Taisho General - OSS Great Taisho ,OSS Hatamoto Taisho and OSS Great Shogun.

On Wednesday 30th September, Mr. Luis Schmidt, Director of Music and Chairman of Capella Edina, Edinburgh’s Philharmonic Orchestra, visited the Consulate General of Japan in Edinburgh to meet with Consul General Katsutoshi Takeda.

Capella Edina is Edinburgh’s Philharmonic Orchestra, founded in 2024 by Mr. Schmidt as the city’s first resident professional philharmonic orchestra since 1937. Guided by the motto ‘United by Passion for Music’ the orchestra performs concerts for the community and is dedicated to outreach activities involving visiting schools to provide children with accessible, hands-on musical experiences.

Looking ahead, the orchestra aims to engage in international activities and hopes to foster further cultural exchange between Scotland and Japan through music.

For further information about Capella Edina, Edinburgh’s Philharmonic Orchestra, please visit the following link:
https://capella-edina.com/

From The Order of The Scottish Samurai

Helena Anderson Wright of the Scottish Cultural and Burns Association organised a spectacular charity concert in aid of the local charity Forget me Not.

It was the unique location of Cluny Castle, residence of the Baron of Cluny and Lady of Cluny, where an extraordinary celebration of music, song, and poetry, was held, as our imagination was captured with hope and enthusiasm, with special performances from artistes and champions of The Robert Burns Federation. The Baron, graciously welcomed everyone to this sell out event, he then acknowledged, Helena for her dedicated service to culture and charities, and was pleased to give his support to the The Forget Me Not Club charity.

Young people formed the majority of the performers, benefitting from this unique platform, which amazed the audience. Professional artistes also delighted us with their exceptional talent. Songs for the soul, from Bach to Burns, were exquisitely performed by Moira Docherty accompanied by Harry Williamson. The Bagpipes echoed, the resounding and moving, Highland Cathedral with champion pipers, Anya, Katie Abi and Aled from Robert Gordons College, followed by a spirited recital of Scots Wha Hae from Fraser Duncan. Liam Kerr MSP, made a rousing speech showing his appreciation of North East Cultural Heritage, and our wonderful natural resources, and this was greatly welcomed by the audience. Beth Pratt delivered an illuminating talk on the Gordon connection with Burns, during the Scottish Enlightenment

The soaring treble voices of Matthew McClelland, Miranda Serrano and Aled Lynn, displayed etherial beauty. While the melodious sound of harp and strings, rose through the air between the granite walls, as Erin Smith, Anna Coste and Heather Terwey, each approached musical perfection. Brothers Angus and Finlay Donohoe, showed great mastery on the organ, as it echoed richly and triumphantly, through the ancient walls of the castle.

The universal and international spirit of the Petroleum Women's Club of Scotland, and collective audience from the Burns Federation, many of whom travelled throughout the UK to attend, cooperated to support a very worthwhile cause. Emily Clark, especially thanked Helena, along with Jane and Beth for planning and organising, the speculator charity concert, in aid of The Forget Me Not Club.

The Order of the Scottish Samurai led by Ronnie Watt OBE ORS, assisted by Graham Guyan from Animals in Warfare, honoured four outstanding individuals, for their dedication and commitment to the community, through the shared values of the OSS and The Scottish Cultural and Burns Association. Ronnie has devoted much of his life to instilling such values throughout the community.

The Lord Lieutenant Alexander Manson warmly thanked and praised all the performers.
The refreshments and finest fare were organised and served by the International Petroleum Ladies Club to follow the concert, when thanks where given by Ron McKail, Deputy Provost.

From Noriyasu Takahira OSS Ambassador Nagasaki Japan

From this evening, it was "Ninomiya-mise" at Nagasaki-kunchi. The town of Odori was very busy, with a huge number of visitors, and it was very crowded. Some people were serving sweets and alcohol, and there were long queues. There were many things that I don't usually see, such as peach manju, tangerine, large sea bream, and various types of alcohol. The hearts of Nagasaki people are all focused on Nagasaki-kunchi. -mise