Mr Teruhisa Nakamura’s Speech — Gokurosama Party, Mitsubishi Club (6 July 2012)
Firstly, let me offer my thanks to the Honorary Secretaries for arranging this special “Gokurosama” event in my honour at the Mitsubishi Club. The event was originally scheduled in June at Kojunsha in Ginza, and I apologise for forcing its cancellation due to my sudden visit to Oxford. I feel I must therefore give you a brief report of that unexpected trip.
Quite unexpectedly, I received an invitation in early June — after the Kojunsha event had been announced — from Oxford in the names of Lord Patten (Chancellor) and Professor Andrew Hamilton (Vice Chancellor) to attend the University’s Encaenia on Wednesday 20th June. I hasten to add that the invitation was extended to me as Honorary Secretary of the Cambridge & Oxford Society, not through any particular achievement of my own. As I had just retired from the C&O Committee at the Triennial General Meeting in April, I must confess I was slightly embarrassed.
According to the invitation, “Encaenia is the special celebration held at the end of each academic year at the University of Oxford, during which honorary degrees are conferred in the presence of members of the University and specially invited guests.” As the letter went on to explain, “The tradition of conferring honorary degrees at Oxford goes back to at least the 15th century, though the Encaenia celebration in some form dates from the 1200s.” It certainly goes back to my own Oxford days in the 1960s, when I recall witnessing the Encaenia procession at the Sheldonian Theatre. Feeling deeply honoured, I consulted several senior C&O members, including Sir David Warren, all of whom encouraged me to accept the invitation.
I quickly obtained flights online and reserved a guest room at Worcester College for 19th–20th June. The college kindly lent me full academic dress for the ceremony and Garden Party.
Conducted entirely in Latin, the ceremony at the Sheldonian Theatre was truly impressive. After a trumpet fanfare, the Public Orator introduced each of the eight nominees in a resounding voice — without a microphone — explaining the reasons for each award. Aung San Suu Kyi, a graduate of St Hugh’s College and Nobel laureate, was the first and most illustrious of the honorands. She spoke at the conclusion of the ceremony with clarity and warmth, expressing optimism for her country’s democratic future.
After lunch at St Hugh’s, the Vice Chancellor and Mrs Jennifer Hamilton hosted a Garden Party in Worcester College’s garden. Champagne, wine and strawberries were served beneath three large marquees in perfect weather — the elegant scene reminding me of Worcester’s Spring Ball.
Back in London, I dined with former C&O member Guy Heald before returning home on 25th June.
Now I must turn to my 30 years as C&O Honorary Secretary — as succinctly as possible.
I joined the Society in 1969, two years after my return from Oxford, at a typically long lunch in a Shell boardroom in the Kasumigaseki Building. It was a seated meal attended exclusively by senior gentlemen — no ladies — presided over by the British Ambassador, Sir John Pilcher. I was introduced as a new member and recall replying awkwardly to his gentle teasing, to the amusement of all present. I was young, and that was very much the atmosphere of the Society in those days.
Five years later, Ashley Raeburn, then Chairman of Shell Companies in Japan, summoned me to his office. Sitting beside him was Dudley Morgan, the newly appointed Honorary Secretary, who needed assistance as he was about to retire. Thus began my long service as his assistant — a role I continued for about fifteen years, aside from a short assignment in London.
In 1989, a special lunch was held to honour Dudley’s retirement, with Sir John Whitehead presenting him with two pewter tankards in appreciation of his service. Dudley moved to Hiroshima, where sadly he died not long after.
Andrew Watt succeeded Dudley in 1990. A kind and accomplished man, he taught at Waseda University and worked in PR for a Belgian diamond firm. His secretary and mine worked closely together as our administrative workload increased in the mid-1990s. Andrew initiated the Society’s first membership database before retiring in 1995; he passed away in 2011.
Our 90th anniversary in 1995 was celebrated with a gala at the British Ambassador’s Residence. Each member received a Selangor pewter mug to commemorate the occasion.
In the same year, I helped reinaugurate the Kansai Chapter, working with Yoshihisa Shimizu and Stephen Boyd. After extensive outreach, the chapter was successfully relaunched at a large gathering in Osaka in November 1998. Since then, the Kansai Chapter has held annual Christmas Parties, first hosted by Eikichi Itoh and later by Geoffrey Barraclough.
When Andrew Watt retired, Stephen Church briefly became Honorary Secretary, but due to ill health he stepped down in 1996. Around this time, traditional lunch meetings became more difficult for busy members, and our usual venue at the Kasumigaseki Building was no longer available after Shell relocated. We shifted to various locations including the Embassy’s New Hall and the International House of Japan.
It was during this period that I came to know Tim Minton well through lunches, evening events, and the Kansai reinauguration. His organisational abilities soon became invaluable, and we began working closely together.
I also handled C&O golf arrangements for many years — a tradition dating back before the First World War — until the role passed to Oxford Blue Steven Thomas in 2011.
In 2000, with the support of Koichi Nezu, we began the Second Tuesday Get-togethers at Bar Korin, offering members an informal way to meet without reservation. These monthly gatherings continue today.
In 2003, a reshuffle of Honorary Secretaries was approved, appointing Buhei Okumura, myself, Tim Minton, Huw Williams, and Yuhiko Yasunaga (Treasurer). A large committee was also formed to organise the Society’s Centenary in 2005, celebrated with distinguished guests from several overseas Oxbridge societies.
Successive British Ambassadors — almost all Oxbridge graduates — have graciously served as Presidents of our Society and extended the hospitality of the Embassy Residence each May. Members of Japan’s Imperial Family, including Crown Prince Naruhito, Crown Princess Masako, and Princess Takamado, are Honorary Members and regular attendees.
In 2001, with the help of Koichi Fukasawa, we launched the Society’s website (www.camford.org), strengthening ties among alumni worldwide. During my tenure, I travelled to Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Taipei to build connections with other Oxbridge societies.
Membership has grown from under 100 when I joined in 1969 to more than 300 in 2012. The Society now includes many younger members with diverse careers and perspectives, yet united by Oxbridge values and camaraderie.
In April this year, following unexpected cardiac surgery, I realised that I must step back from responsibilities. I therefore submitted my resignation to Sir David Warren. Fortunately, Tim Minton — capable, energetic and kind — now leads a strong new team, and I urge all members to support them by attending as many events as possible.
Our 110th anniversary will arrive in 2015. We must not miss it. I hope to be there — and to help in any way I can.
Thank you.
6 July 2012
Teruhisa Nakamura (Worcester, Oxford 1964)
Addendum 1 — Senior Members in the 1970s
As listed in Doreen Simmons’ “My C&O Reminiscences”, the following thirteen senior members were active in the 1970s (all but the asterisked names are deceased or presumed so):
- Hidehiro Takaki (Gonville & Caius, Cambridge 1927–30)
- Dudley Morgan (Christ’s, Cambridge 1929–33)
- Toshio Katsube (All Souls, Oxford 1931–32)
- Canon Paul Sekiya (Westcott House, Cambridge 1931–32)
- Masayoshi Kakitsubo (Trinity Hall, Cambridge 1932–35)
- Teruko Kachi (Girton, Cambridge 1933–36)
- Ineko Kondo (Girton, Cambridge 1937–39)
- Takao Kato (Emmanuel, Cambridge 1937–41)
- Toshio Yamanaka (Trinity, Cambridge 1939–40)
- Sir Michael Wilford (Pembroke, Cambridge 1940–41, 1946–47; All Souls, Oxford 1966–67)
- Hugh Wilkinson* (King’s, Cambridge 1946–49)
- Rev. Peter Millward* (Campion Hall, Oxford 1950–54)
- Ken MacDonald* (Brasenose, Oxford 1956–59)
Addendum 2 — British Ambassadors to Japan
(1858 to present — list retained exactly as in original text)
List of British Ambassadors to Japan from 1858
Ministers Plenipotentiary:
| Sir Rutherford Alcock | 1859~1862 | ||
| Lt Colonel Edward Neale | 1862~1864 | ||
| Sir Rutherford Alcock | 1864~1865 | ||
| Sir Harry Smith Parkes | 1865~1883 | ||
| Sir Francis Plunkett | 1884~1887 | ||
| Hugh Fraser | 1865~1883 (Eton College) | ||
| Power Henry Le Poer Trench | 1894~1895 | ||
| Sir Ernest Mason Satow | 1895~1900(University College, London) | ||
| Sir Claude MacDonald | 1900~1905 (Uppingham School, Sandhurst) |
Ambassadors:
| Sir Claude MacDonald | 1905~1912 (Called a “Soldier–Outside” diplomat) | ||
| Sir Conyngham Greene | 1912~1919 Pembroke, Oxford | ||
| Sir Charles Elliot | 1919~1925 Balliol, Oxford | ||
| Sir John Tilly | 1926~1931 King’s, Cambridge 1889~1892 | ||
| Sir Francis Lindley | 1931~1934 Magdalen, Oxford 1890~1893 | ||
| Sir Robert Clive | 1934~1937 Magdalen, Oxford 1896~1899 | ||
| Sir Robert Craigie | 1937~1941 |
(No representation during 1941~1946 due to World War II)
Political Representatives:
| Sir Alvary Gascoigne | 1946~1951 | ||
| Sir Esler Dening | 1951~1952 |
Ambassadors:
| Sir Esler Dening | 1952~1957 | ||
| Sir Daniel Lascelles | 1957~1959 Balliol, Oxford 1921~1925 | ||
| Sir Francis Rundall | 1963~1967 Peterhouse, Cambridge 1924~1928 | ||
| Sir John Pilcher | 1967~1972 Clare, Cambridge 1931~1935 | ||
| Sir Fred Warner | 1972~1975 Magdalen, Oxford | ||
| Sir Michael Wilford | 1975~1980 Pembroke, Cambridge 1940~41, 1946~47, All Souls, Oxford 1966~1967 | ||
| Sir Hugh Cortazzi | 1980~1984 (London*) | ||
| * John Whitehead, the Minister, accepted the C&O Presidency during this period | |||
| Sir Sydney Giffard | 1984~1986 Wadham, Oxford 1945~47, 1949~51 | ||
| Sir John Whitehead | 1986~1992 Hertford, Oxford 1952~1955 | ||
| Sir John Boyd | 1992~1996 Clare, Cambridge 1956~1960 | ||
| Sir David Wright | 1996~1999 Peterhouse, Cambridge 1963~1966 | ||
| Sir Stephen Gomersall | 1999~2004 Queens’, Cambridge 1966~1969 | ||
| Sir Graham Fry | 2004~2008 Brasenose, Oxford 1968~1972 | ||
| Sir David Warren | 2008~2012 Exeter, Oxford 1971~1975 | ||
| Mr Tim Hitchens | 2012~ Christ’s, Cambridge 1980~1984 |
(Sources: British Envoys in Japan 1859~1972 edited and compiled by Sir Hugh Cortazzi, Wikipedia, and other papers)
TN
10/8/2012