Rotary District Scholar Mako Tomaka

Mako Tanaka is a Rotary Foundation District Scholar.

She is already well know to us as she has attended our zoom meetings regularly. She gave us a very interesting talk superbly illustrated and in perfect English.

She described her upbringing near Tokyo and after high school she enrolled at Akita International University in the north of Japan. All the classes were in English and one year spent studying abroad is a requirement of graduation. Mako showed us a photo of the amazing university library and photos of the stunning scenery in every season. Akita has the largest number of festivals in Japan. She studied economics as an undergraduate with a special interest in historic conservation. She had an exchange in Bangkok. 

She is currently studying for an MSc in Urban Strategies and Design jointly at Heriot-Watt and Edinburgh Universities. 

Her career plans are to become an urban designer and ideally form her own company.

While in Scotland she has a “to do” list which includes:-

1. To study and enjoy tartan.

2. To study whisky.

3. To learn Scottish words and “Scottish” English. To this end she has listened to the Proclaimers and watched such films as Trainspotting and Sunshine in Leith.

4. To enjoy Rotary opportunities both in Scotland and in Japan. She mentioned that the president of her high school was a Rotarian and there could be opportunities for her to make a presentation to her old school.

There were several questions and Ken invited her to have a dram at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society in Queen Street. He would pay!

Mako had a list of questions for us and it was agreed that these would be emailed to all members and their responses sent to Mako.

Mike Rowe gave the club’s V.O.T for what had been an extremely interesting and enjoyable presentation.