Glorious sunshine greeted the 1,000 + guests at Kanda University, Makuhari. A pageant of Scottish traditional sounds and colour met the early birds for the March Past of the massed Pipes & Drums of the Tokyo Pipe band joined by pipers and Judges for the opening event.

All the familiar things associated with the Games were featured including bagpipes and drums, kilts and sporrans, Glengarry caps and tartan shawls, pipers, dancers, 5-a-side football, caber tossing, hammer throwing, children's running races, soft drinks, tea and coffee, hot dogs, scones and cakes, haggis and of course whisky.

This year the seven-a-side football tournament for the Magellan Cup featured ten amateur teams of many nationalities competing vigorously for victory on the splendid astro turf playing surface.

The children were well catered for with running races, egg and spoon and of course the sack race. These were followed by several rounds of the Tug o’ War and of course the now obligatory sweet scramble when Anne Good runs around like a dafty chased by all the kids until she throws all the sweets she is carrying up in the air!

The Games were officially opened at 12 noon by Phil Gibb, Chieftain of the Society and Convenor of the Games. He invited David Fitton, Minister of the British Embassy to formally open the event and Akazawa san, President of Kanda Gaigo addressed the audience.

There was a full range of stalls selling food and drinks to satisfy everyone’s hunger and thirst.

Our thanks go to all our sponsors and advertisers especially, HSBC, Dyson, Whisk-e, Deeside Water, Magellan Financial Planning, ANA Intercontinental Hotel and The Famous Grouse.

The Japan-Scottish Highland Games are organised by the St Andrew Society of Yokohama & Tokyo, a non-profit body with ties to the Japan-Scotland Society, The Tokyo Scottish Blue Bell Club, The Tokyo Piping Society. Any profits arising from the Games are distributed to charity.