Latest news with #AmbJapanUK
The National
29-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Japanese ambassador pictured eating Haggis in Scotland visit
During his visit to the country this week, Hiroshi Suzuki has attended meetings at Holyrood and visited various tourist hotspots in the capital. Suzuki announced he had arrived in Scotland by sharing a picture in front of Edinburgh Castle, where he was seen posing with a soft toy of Paddington Bear, which often features on his social media. (Image: @AmbJapanUK, via Twitter/X) The ambassador has met with Holyrood's Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone, where he said the pair "enjoyed fruitful discussions on a wide range of topics". READ MORE: Best takeaways in Scotland named in Deliveroo 2025 awards – see full list He also attended a cross-parliamentary group meeting on Japan on Wednesday. (Image: @AmbJapanUK, via Twitter/X) Delighted to attend @ScotParl Cross-Party Group meeting on Japan. Glad to deepen understanding of Scottish Gov's initiatives for @expo2025japan and have a fruitful discussion on strengthening relations between 🇯🇵 & 🏴 — Hiroshi Suzuki (@AmbJapanUK) May 28, 2025 Suzuki has also shared his "delight" in visiting the Adam Smith House in Edinburgh, the former residence of the Scottish economist which has since been repurposed into a research institute. READ MORE: Spike in Google searches for 'TRNSMT refund' after Kneecap axed And the ambassador has also partaken in some Scottish delicacies, joking on Thursday morning that he had eaten some Tunnock's teacakes "for breakfast". Tea cakes for breakfast!😋 — Hiroshi Suzuki (@AmbJapanUK) May 29, 2025 In a video posted on social media, Suzuki could also be seen trying Haggis and a dram of whisky, which he said he "enjoyed". "It's fantastic!" he added, with a thumbs up to the camera. While on his visit to Scotland, Suzuki is set to meet with First Minister John Swinney. When the visit was announced last week, Swinney said on Twitter/X: "Looking forward to welcoming you @AmbJapanUK to Bute House and to our wonderful country next week."
Buzz Feed
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
19 Wholesome Posts I Found On The Internet This Week That Are So, So Needed Right Now
Hi, everyone! Here are some cute, happy, and wholesome posts to hopefully cheer you up a bit and remind you that no matter what, there's always cute stuff out there in the world to appreciate and love. Enjoy! 1. This cake that is quite possibly the most perfect birthday cake I've ever seen: 2. Getting to enjoy a gorrrrrgeous bouquet: 4. This adorable, perfect lamb cake: 5. This gorgeous Easter table setting: Twitter: @earlygirl__ 6. "It looks like if Klimt made an omelette": 9. The Japanese ambassador to the UK, who seriously loves his job: Twitter: @AmbJapanUK 11. This exchange that made me laugh: 12. This Snoopy and his mini Snoopies: 13. This adorable hedge, and the fact that for some reason it's a marked tourist spot: 16. Appreciating the world's beautiful sights: 17. This mom moment (although you should put that guy outside!): 19. And finally, this Victorian band playing in Paddington Station: Twitter: @HallieRubenhold
Telegraph
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
How the Japanese ambassador became an unlikely social media star
Hiroshi Suzuki has been in the UK for just four months, yet he's already on his way to becoming an adopted national treasure. Appointed Japan 's ambassador in September 2024 and beginning his remarkably successful posting in November, he has captivated Britons with his boundless enthusiasm. Ambassadors rarely attract much public attention – let alone affection – but Suzuki's inventive approach to diplomacy has made him a social media sensation. Suzuki's latest love letter to the UK came on Saturday in the form of a video celebrating St David's Day. Seated in an armchair, with a large vase of daffodils proudly displayed in front of him, the ambassador cheerfully announces that he is marking the occasion 'with a delicious Welsh cake.' What follows is a delightful 10 seconds of him steadily chewing – understandably so, given their famously hearty texture – before offering a triumphant thumbs-up. The pièce de résistance? A perfectly timed sip of tea from a Welsh dragon mug. Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus! 🏴 — Hiroshi Suzuki (@AmbJapanUK) March 1, 2025 He even works in some cultural fusion. Suzuki ends the video by exclaiming: 'And I made daffodils with origami – the Japanese art of folding paper.' He then proudly points to one of his sunny artworks, which is pinned to the label of his suit jacket. It's impossible not to be charmed by Suzuki's wholehearted embrace of Britishness, expressed not in po-faced statements about international partnerships or dutiful appearances at formal events, but in a down-to-earth, affable and humorous way. He is like the Paddington Bear of ambassadors. Another recent highlight came in January when Suzuki enthusiastically belted out the Welsh national anthem, clutching both Japanese and Welsh flags while cheerfully keeping time with a miniature stuffed dragon. His pronunciation was impressively accurate – a testament to his earnest effort – making the performance both charming and delightfully quirky. In fact, he put many politicians and sports figures to shame. His spirited rendition might even help erase the lingering embarrassment of John Redwood's infamous 1993 mishap, when the then-Welsh secretary's failed attempt to mime the anthem at the Welsh Conservative conference resulted in a now-legendary display of awkward head-waggling and vacant staring. Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus/ Happy St David's Day everyone 🌼🏴 Here's the awesome Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Suzuki singing Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau ❤️ — Dai (@RepublicOfWales) March 1, 2025 In an interview following his, by contrast, thoroughly delightful performance, Suzuki shared the inspiration behind his faithful rendition. 'When the Welsh national team visited Japan for the Rugby World Cup in 2019, the Japanese local people welcomed [them] by singing the national anthem in Welsh. It was the First Minister [Eluned Morgan] who told me this story, and then I thought 'Oh maybe I could sing the national anthem in Welsh as well.'' He continued: 'I had to practise hard. I tried singing the national anthem four or five times, but I just couldn't hit the high note in the second half.' Suzuki added that he worked on it for half an hour with his colleagues 'holding the lyrics written in Japanese. And I practice, practice, practice and finally I could make that video.' He then returned to one of his favourite topics: Welsh cake. 'My wife bought these cakes yesterday and she told me 'Oh Hiroshi, this is perfect for your breakfast', which I had. And it's just a wonderful combination with morning coffee, and it was just fantastic.' He also said he was looking forward to travelling around the UK, 'enjoying many different fish and chips at many different pubs throughout the country.' Suzuki's charm offence doesn't end there. He celebrated New Year's Day by visiting a pub and knocking back a pint, and giving the slightly bemused but smiling bar staff a present in exchange. 'This is Roku from Japan,' he explains of his gifted bottle, capping the video with another almighty thumbs up. He's clearly partial to a pint: he also indulged in one during a trip to Oxford's famous Turf Tavern earlier this week. Happy New Year !! ㊗️ — Hiroshi Suzuki (@AmbJapanUK) January 1, 2025 In March, Suzuki also posted a video giving UK visitors a sneak peek of Japan's Expo 2025. Naturally he does his introductory speech while holding up Hello Kitty and Pikachu toys. 'This is exciting!' he exclaims, with all the enthusiasm of a Blue Peter presenter. He does actually make the Expo's highlights sound thrilling through sheer force of personality, like the 'stone from Mars'. The video ends with Suzuki peering out at us through a googly eyes cut-out and holding the Expo mascot. He was equally endearing on Burns Night, holding a book of Burns poetry and sharing a fun fact on X: 'Auld Lang Syne is very popular in Japan, always sung at graduation ceremonies' – though, sadly, we didn't get a performance from him this time. Suzuki clearly understands the crucial role that sport and culture play in forging international ties. In January, he visited Cardiff's Principality Stadium, tweeting, 'Rugby builds friendship between Japan and Wales!' and he also attended the England vs. Japan match at Twickenham last November. An exciting weekend for Japanese rugby in the UK! See the posts below for more information. #JapanUK — Hiroshi Suzuki (@AmbJapanUK) November 22, 2024 He has also brought Japan and Britain together at the Royal Albert Hall, attending a press conference for a London sumo wrestling tournament at the venue as well as seeing the Japanese conductor Joe Hisaishi lead the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in November. But Suzuki truly shines when he's devouring British delicacies. In a video posted in December, he sampled two newly designated GI (geographical indication) products: New Forest Pannage Ham and Sussex Sparkling Wine. While explaining the significance of origin labels, he lightened the mood with his joyful munching. It's a valuable lesson for any public figure: a little bit of fun – whether it's a bite of ham or a sip of sparkling wine – helps the serious message go down. GI (Geographical Indication) will give you a "real deal" of authenticity! — Hiroshi Suzuki (@AmbJapanUK) December 20, 2024 Suzuki's efforts have certainly been appreciated by politicians such as the Welsh First Minister, who said of his anthem singing: 'You did a wonderful job, and thank you for giving such respect to our country and our language.' But Suzuki's appeal extends far beyond the typical diplomatic circles. Thousands of members of the public have flocked to his videos, leaving an overwhelmingly positive flood of comments – an almost unheard-of occurrence on social media. 'I like the cut of your jib,' says Paul Nash on X, referring to Suzuki's pint-drinking antics. 'He is more proud of the UK than 90% of our politicians,' writes Demosthenes, while Constancia agrees: 'This is my kind of ambassador.' Other comments include: 'Hi Japan, we love him. Can we keep him please?' from Laura Weldon; 'What a great sport he is' from Language Talk Tanya; 'We desperately need this man's positivity, energy, and love for our nation' from SAW74; 'You are a breath of fresh air' from Joe Lincolnshire; 'What an excellent chap! Full marks for coming across as friendly, affable, professional and hard working' from FunkeeOperator; and from Alex Freeman, 'It's been a long time since I have seen my country honoured in such a way by anyone. Thank you sir for your affection and respect.' Another simply dubbed him: 'Probably the best diplomat in the world.' Took a little break @TheTurfTavern pub, another place which the Emperor often visited during his time as a student @UniofOxford! — Hiroshi Suzuki (@AmbJapanUK) March 3, 2025 That really sums up Suzuki's appeal. Yes, his videos are often slightly silly, but there's an underlying appreciation for British culture. It's just expressed in a way that we understand: we like our patriotism with a side order of humour and self-deprecation. We don't take ourselves too seriously, and neither does he. It's a triumphant moment in the already impressive career of 63-year-old Suzuki. Born in Kyoto in 1961, he studied law at the University of Tokyo before embarking on his diplomatic journey with his first posting to the Embassy of Japan in Washington DC in 1988. He went on to serve at Japanese embassies in Rome, Tehran, and Seoul, before being appointed Ambassador to India and Bhutan in 2022. In 2024, he took on the role of Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Could this inspire other ambassadors to embrace a more playful approach to diplomacy? After all, you can't go viral on social media simply by delivering speeches or cutting ribbons. Suzuki has shown that it's possible to represent your country's interests while also winning the hearts of the nation – by taking a few risks, being approachable, and, of course, indulging in plenty of Welsh cakes.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How the Japanese ambassador became an unlikely social media star
@AmbJapanUK Hiroshi Suzuki has been in the UK for just four months, yet he's already on his way to becoming an adopted national treasure. Appointed Japan's ambassador in September 2024 and beginning his remarkably successful posting in November, he has captivated Britons with his boundless enthusiasm. Ambassadors rarely attract much public attention – let alone affection – but Suzuki's inventive approach to diplomacy has made him a social media sensation. Suzuki's latest love letter to the UK came on Saturday in the form of a video celebrating St David's Day. Seated in an armchair, with a large vase of daffodils proudly displayed in front of him, the ambassador cheerfully announces that he is marking the occasion 'with a delicious Welsh cake.' What follows is a delightful 10 seconds of him steadily chewing – understandably so, given their famously hearty texture – before offering a triumphant thumbs-up. The pièce de résistance? A perfectly timed sip of tea from a Welsh dragon mug. He even works in some cultural fusion. Suzuki ends the video by exclaiming: 'And I made daffodils with origami – the Japanese art of folding paper.' He then proudly points to one of his sunny artworks, which is pinned to the label of his suit jacket. It's impossible not to be charmed by Suzuki's wholehearted embrace of Britishness, expressed not in po-faced statements about international partnerships or dutiful appearances at formal events, but in a down-to-earth, affable and humorous way. He is like the Paddington Bear of ambassadors. Another recent highlight came in January when Suzuki enthusiastically belted out the Welsh national anthem, clutching both Japanese and Welsh flags while cheerfully keeping time with a miniature stuffed dragon. His pronunciation was impressively accurate – a testament to his earnest effort – making the performance both charming and delightfully quirky. In fact, he put many politicians and sports figures to shame. His spirited rendition might even help erase the lingering embarrassment of John Redwood's infamous 1993 mishap, when the then-Welsh secretary's failed attempt to mime the anthem at the Welsh Conservative conference resulted in a now-legendary display of awkward head-waggling and vacant staring. In an interview following his, by contrast, thoroughly delightful performance, Suzuki shared the inspiration behind his faithful rendition. 'When the Welsh national team visited Japan for the Rugby World Cup in 2019, the Japanese local people welcomed [them] by singing the national anthem in Welsh. It was the First Minister [Eluned Morgan] who told me this story, and then I thought 'Oh maybe I could sing the national anthem in Welsh as well.'' He continued: 'I had to practise hard. I tried singing the national anthem four or five times, but I just couldn't hit the high note in the second half.' Suzuki added that he worked on it for half an hour with his colleagues 'holding the lyrics written in Japanese. And I practice, practice, practice and finally I could make that video.' He then returned to one of his favourite topics: Welsh cake. 'My wife bought these cakes yesterday and she told me 'Oh Hiroshi, this is perfect for your breakfast', which I had. And it's just a wonderful combination with morning coffee, and it was just fantastic.' He also said he was looking forward to travelling around the UK, 'enjoying many different fish and chips at many different pubs throughout the country.' Suzuki's charm offence doesn't end there. He celebrated New Year's Day by visiting a pub and knocking back a pint, and giving the slightly bemused but smiling bar staff a present in exchange. 'This is Roku from Japan,' he explains of his gifted bottle, capping the video with another almighty thumbs up. He's clearly partial to a pint: he also indulged in one during a trip to Oxford's famous Turf Tavern earlier this week. In March, Suzuki also posted a video giving UK visitors a sneak peek of Japan's Expo 2025. Naturally he does his introductory speech while holding up Hello Kitty and Pikachu toys. 'This is exciting!' he exclaims, with all the enthusiasm of a Blue Peter presenter. He does actually make the Expo's highlights sound thrilling through sheer force of personality, like the 'stone from Mars'. The video ends with Suzuki peering out at us through a googly eyes cut-out and holding the Expo mascot. He was equally endearing on Burns Night, holding a book of Burns poetry and sharing a fun fact on X: 'Auld Lang Syne is very popular in Japan, always sung at graduation ceremonies' – though, sadly, we didn't get a performance from him this time. Suzuki clearly understands the crucial role that sport and culture play in forging international ties. In January, he visited Cardiff's Principality Stadium, tweeting, 'Rugby builds friendship between Japan and Wales!' and he also attended the England vs. Japan match at Twickenham last November. He has also brought Japan and Britain together at the Royal Albert Hall, attending a press conference for a London sumo wrestling tournament at the venue as well as seeing the Japanese conductor Joe Hisaishi lead the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in November. But Suzuki truly shines when he's devouring British delicacies. In a video posted in December, he sampled two newly designated GI (geographical indication) products: New Forest Pannage Ham and Sussex Sparkling Wine. While explaining the significance of origin labels, he lightened the mood with his joyful munching. It's a valuable lesson for any public figure: a little bit of fun – whether it's a bite of ham or a sip of sparkling wine – helps the serious message go down. Suzuki's efforts have certainly been appreciated by politicians such as the Welsh First Minister, who said of his anthem singing: 'You did a wonderful job, and thank you for giving such respect to our country and our language.' But Suzuki's appeal extends far beyond the typical diplomatic circles. Thousands of members of the public have flocked to his videos, leaving an overwhelmingly positive flood of comments – an almost unheard-of occurrence on social media. 'I like the cut of your jib,' says Paul Nash on X, referring to Suzuki's pint-drinking antics. 'He is more proud of the UK than 90% of our politicians,' writes Demosthenes, while Constancia agrees: 'This is my kind of ambassador.' Other comments include: 'Hi Japan, we love him. Can we keep him please?' from Laura Weldon; 'What a great sport he is' from Language Talk Tanya; 'We desperately need this man's positivity, energy, and love for our nation' from SAW74; 'You are a breath of fresh air' from Joe Lincolnshire; 'What an excellent chap! Full marks for coming across as friendly, affable, professional and hard working' from FunkeeOperator; and from Alex Freeman, 'It's been a long time since I have seen my country honoured in such a way by anyone. Thank you sir for your affection and respect.' Another simply dubbed him: 'Probably the best diplomat in the world.' That really sums up Suzuki's appeal. Yes, his videos are often slightly silly, but there's an underlying appreciation for British culture. It's just expressed in a way that we understand: we like our patriotism with a side order of humour and self-deprecation. We don't take ourselves too seriously, and neither does he. It's a triumphant moment in the already impressive career of 63-year-old Suzuki. Born in Kyoto in 1961, he studied law at the University of Tokyo before embarking on his diplomatic journey with his first posting to the Embassy of Japan in Washington DC in 1988. He went on to serve at Japanese embassies in Rome, Tehran, and Seoul, before being appointed Ambassador to India and Bhutan in 2022. In 2024, he took on the role of Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Could this inspire other ambassadors to embrace a more playful approach to diplomacy? After all, you can't go viral on social media simply by delivering speeches or cutting ribbons. Suzuki has shown that it's possible to represent your country's interests while also winning the hearts of the nation – by taking a few risks, being approachable, and, of course, indulging in plenty of Welsh cakes. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
