The Japanese home of the north-east man credited with kick-starting the country’s industrial revolution has won special recognition from the United Nations.
Thomas Blake Glover’s bungalow and gardens in the city of Nagasaki has joined the elite club of landmarks across the world to be recognised by UNESCO as world heritage sites.
The home of the Mitsubishi co-founder is one of 23 places designated as the “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution”.
The ancient city of Susa in Iran, the Champagne vineyards of eastern France and the Forth rail bridge have also achieved the honour this year.
Tourist body VisitScotland hopes the heritage status will encourage more Japanese tourists to visit Blake Glover’s north-east homeland.
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop visited Japan last month to promote a new guide which takes in the Scottish Samurai’s birthplace in Fraserburgh and former family home in Aberdeen.
The property at the city’s Bridge of Don has been closed to visitors since 2012.
It is owned by the North East Japan Trust but is currently being transferred to Aberdeen City Council.
A VisitScotland spokesperson said: “A shared common interest with another destination can act as an excellent tourism tool when it comes to appealing to potential visitors and tour operators.”
Councillor Barney Crockett, a representative of the North East Japan Trust, said: “I think that the legacy of Glover in Japan is very well recognised and I think Aberdeen is in a very favourable place to benefit from this.”
Anne Malcolm, chairwoman of the Thomas Blake Glover Foundation, said the designation was “wonderful news”.
She said: “There have been countless wonderful people both in Scotland and Japan who have worked tirelessly to bring this about.”