30th Japan Scottish Highland Games take place

1500 people turned out in Makuhari for the 30th Japan Scottish Highland Games. Events included throwing a weight over a bar, tossing a hammer and a heavier version of modern shot-put, as well as tossing the caber.



Charles Bentley-Foster, the chairman of the Tokyo St Andrew Society, explained how the event came about. "The Japanese love to take on other cultures and they're very keen. Especially between Japan and Scotland there is a very warm tie, and it has been for many years since the end of the Second World War."

One of those taking part, Satoshi Inoue, explains his love of Scotland began 20 years ago at university. "It all started when I found a set of bagpipes at a fleamarket. But they turned out to be fakes , so I decided to do it properly and I ended up here in the band," he said.


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First-time competitor Tomoyuki Yoda admits he got some funny looks while training.' saying: "We have to practice (tossing the caber) under a bridge so people are pretty surprised. They look down and shout 'what on earth are you doing?'"