A north-east town last night celebrated its historical links with the Land of the Rising Sun.
Japanese consul general Hajime Kitaoka jetted in to Scotland to visit the home town of Victorian industrialist Thomas Blake Glover.
Dubbed the “Scottish Samurai”, Fraserburgh-born Glover is widely credited with leading industrialisation in 19th century Japan.
He established a shipbuilding firm which grew into electronics and car giant Mitsubishi and founded the Japan Brewing Company, which makes Kirin beer.
He was also instrumental in creating the Meji government.
Yesterday, Mr Kitaoka and his wife Yoko were given a tour of some of Glover’s old haunts in and around Fraserburgh.
After lunch at the local golf club, they visited the town’s heritage centre, home to the only permanent Glover display outside Japan.
Last night, Mr Kitaoka launched a new display of pictures at Fraserburgh’s Museum of Scottish Lighthouses.
Photographers Ken Paterson and Robert Thomson travelled to Japan, Italy and America to capture aspects of Glover’s heritage on camera.
The series of images forms part of a wider Famous Scots project.
A spokeswoman for the heritage centre said: “We were absolutely delighted to host a visit from Mr Kitaoka and his wife.
“They were enthralled by our Glover garden.”
Glover was born in Fraserburgh in 1838 and spent his childhood there.
He began as a merchant trading in ships and weapons before sailing to Japan. Aged 21, he helped samurai warriors topple the country’s military leader, the shogun.
Glover’s Aberdeen home in Balgownie Road had been open to the public as a museum and education centre, but was shut down two years ago amid funding problems. Most of its assets have since been sold off.