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Thomas Glover Trail and exhibition highlighted in Nagasaki.

A project to promote the north-east of Scotland as the birthplace of ‘Scottish Samurai’ Sir Thomas Glover was introduced to Japanese audiences this morning in Nagasaki.

A new exhibit in Aberdeen’s Maritime museum, booklet and visitor trail exploring the life of Aberdeenshire merchant Sir Thomas Blake Glover have been created to highlight the Scot and his place in Scottish-Japanese history to those both at home and abroad.

Copies of the booklet and trail were today presented to the custodians of Thomas Glover’s former home in Nagasaki, now called the Thomas Glover House and Gardens, by the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop.

Ms Hyslop said: “Thomas Glover is one of the most important Scots in history and his legacy endures in both Nagasaki and Aberdeenshire today. The initiative will not only renew interest in Thomas Glover but attract more Scots to learn about him and Scotland’s links to modern Japan. I hope the trail and exhibition will also attract Japanese tourists to Scotland to see for themselves the places where Glover grew up.”

The exhibit, booklet and trail have been created through Aberdeen City Council’s Common Good Fund. The council is also in the process of opening up access to Glover House in Bridge of Don to more visitors.

Aberdeen Lord Provost George Adam said: “We are very proud in the north-east of Scotland of our connections to Thomas Blake Glover. He came from humble beginnings and forged an amazing life and career in Japan.

“We want to help tourists coming to Scotland wanting to find out more about him, so they can now come to the exhibit at the Maritime Museum, look up the leaflet, or go on the Glover Trail. We look forward to giving them a warm Scottish welcome.”

Born in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire in Scotland on 6 June 1838, Sir Thomas Glover was to become one of the most important foreigners in Japanese history. He was a serial entrepreneur and was instrumental in the start of the Mitsubishi company and the Kirin beer company as well as many other ventures.

Best known for bringing industrialisation to Japan, he went on to become a counsellor to senior politicians and was the first non-Japanese recipient of the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun.

He gained the nickname the Scottish Samurai having helped the Samurai overthrow their military leader, the Shogun. This action helped to restore The Emperor to his throne and earned Glover a place in history.