30th Anniversary OSS Awards 2024

Celebrating Excellence and Culture: The Scottish Samurai Awards 2024

The Order of The Scottish Samurai (OSS) awards celebrate and promote excellence, tradition, and cultural exchange. Our key aim is to promote humanity and bring people together. We have been involved in fundraising for charities and recently helped co-fund a Defibrillator with the Ploughman Pub in Peterculter.

30th OSS Anniversary at Broomhall House

This year the OSS are celebrating our thirty years anniversary in 2024. At Broomhall house on Sunday 3^rd of March, a house with significant relevance to Scotland’s rich heritage, the Bruce family played host to our prestigious 30^th anniversary of the Scottish Samurai Awards. This illustrious event was graced by fifty guests, 24 awardees and 19 recipients and was presided over by Ronnie Watt (9th Dan) OBE ORS (OSS Founder), Lord Bruce, The Lord Provost of Aberdeen David Cameron, The Lord Dean of Guild, Sylvia Halkerston, the Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh, Mr. Tadashi Fujiwara, and The Very Reverend Professor, Sir Iain Torrance.

Against the backdrop of Broomhall House’s timeless elegance, attendees experienced a convergence of Scottish and Japanese heritage, symbolizing the enduring bond between the two nations.  Guests were captivated by the blend of prestige and cultural significance.

Among the highlights of the afternoon was the captivating entertainment provided by a line-up of talent.  Yvonne Morton, Charlie Abel, Helena Anderson Wright, and Euan Russell graced the event with their mesmerizing performances, showcasing Scotland’s vibrant cultural landscape. Their talents illuminated the halls of Broomhall House, leaving a lasting impression on all those in attendance.

Adding to the spectacle, Robert Boyd presented a breath-taking Iaido martial arts display, mesmerizing the audience with the grace, precision, and discipline inherent in this ancient Japanese martial art form. His performance served as a powerful reminder of the beauty and tradition that permeate both Scottish and Japanese cultures, bridging the gap between East and West with each fluid Samurai sword movement.

The Legacy of Professor J.J.R. Macleod was celebrated, and presented to John Otto and Kimberlie Hamilton, who were part of the group that raised funds to create “MacLeod’s Corner” in Duthie Park. Aberdeen.

“JJR Macleod shared the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1923 as a co-discoverer of insulin and is directly responsible for saving the lives of millions of people with Type 1 diabetes. Yet despite his considerable achievements, very few Aberdonians today are aware of the legacy of one of their city’s most remarkable native sons.

The time has come to raise awareness of this unsung hero’s contributions to humanity and the proud place he rightfully deserves in the history of Aberdeen.”

Amidst the performances and displays, the presence of Lord Bruce, Ronnie Watt (9th Dan) OBE ORS, The Lord Provost of Aberdeen, The Lord Dean of Guild, and the Japanese Consul General in Edinburgh lent an air of distinction and reverence to the proceedings. Their collective presence underscored the significance of the Scottish Samurai Awards as a platform for celebrating excellence, fostering cultural exchange, and strengthening international ties.

As the event unfolded, attendees were reminded of the profound impact that individuals can have when they follow the values of humanity, integrity, perseverance, and mutual respect. Our OSS Scottish Samurai Awards serve as a reminder that, regardless of background or origin, greatness knows no bounds, and the pursuit of excellence is a universal endeavour that unites us all.

As the curtains close on the 2024 Scottish Samurai Awards, the echoes of applause and admiration linger in the air, a testament to the indelible mark left by an afternoon filled with inspiration, camaraderie, and celebration. In the spirit of the Scottish Samurai, Thomas Blake Glover, may we continue to honour excellence, embrace diversity, and cultivate a world where the pursuit of excellence knows no borders. A better world is possible.