| Order of the Scottish Samurai | |
|---|---|
 Coat of Arms of the Order of the Scottish Samurai | |
| Established | 1994 |
| Status | Currently constituted |
| Grades |
|
The Order of the Scottish Samurai (OSS), is an award "recognising excellence, character and respect in alignment with the ancient spirit of budo." It was founded in 1994 by Ronnie Watt, and based on the Order of the Rising Sun, awarded in 1908 to Thomas Blake Glover, 'The Scottish Samurai'.
The OSS was established in 1994 by Aberdeen-based martial arts expert Ronnie Watt, as an awarding body which recognises "excellence, character and respect in alignment with the ancient spirit of budo." [1] [2] The order is modelled on the Order of the Rising Sun which in 1908 bestowed an award on merchant Thomas Blake Glover, who was born in Fraserburgh in 1838 and who rose to be one of the founding fathers of industrialisation in Japan.
The awards which honour ties between Scotland and Japan, [3] recognise individuals who excel in their chosen field or who demonstrate particular character and distinction. [1] There are two levels of award: Samurai and Shogun. [4] The latter award denotes a higher level of achievement or recognition. [5] Recipients are nomited each year by current award-holders. [1]
"The OSS became an awarding body and friendship society in 2016, with letters patent from the Lord Lyon" according to an article on Aberdeen University's website. [6]
Awards are normally conferred at Broomhall House, home of Lord Charles Edward Bruce, 12th Earl of Elgin [7] [8] or at The Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen.
Recipient, Charlie Abel, a noted composer and performer of Scottish Music, created a new tune "The March O' The Scottish Samurai" to commemorate the award. [9]
Notable OSS award holders include
Earl of Elgin is a title in the Peerage of Scotland, created in 1633 for Thomas Bruce, 3rd Lord Kinloss. He was later created Baron Bruce, of Whorlton in the County of York, in the Peerage of England on 30 July 1641. The Earl of Elgin is the hereditary Clan Chief of Clan Bruce.
Clan Keith is a Highland and Lowland Scottish clan, whose Chief historically held the hereditary title of Marischal, then Great Marischal, then Earl Marischal of Scotland.
Thomas Blake Glover was an Anglo-Scottish merchant in Bakumatsu and Meiji-period Japan.
Clan Scott is a Scottish clan and is recognised as such by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. Historically the clan was based in the Scottish Borders.
Clan Gordon is a Highland Scottish clan, historically one of the most powerful Scottish clans. The Gordon lands once spanned a large territory across the Highlands. Presently, Gordon is seated at Aboyne Castle, Aberdeenshire. The Chief of the clan is the Earl of Huntly, later the Marquess of Huntly.
Andrew Douglas Alexander Thomas Bruce, 11th Earl of Elgin and 15th Earl of Kincardine,, styled Lord Bruce before 1968, is a Scottish peer and Chief of Clan Bruce.
The Clan Ruthven is a Lowland Scottish clan.
Clan Fraser is a Scottish clan of the Scottish Lowlands. It is not to be confused with the Clan Fraser of Lovat who are a separate Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands. Both clans have their own separate chief, both of whom are officially recognized by the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs.
Clan Bruce is a Lowlands Scottish clan. It was a royal house in the 14th century, producing two kings of Scotland, and a disputed High King of Ireland, Edward Bruce.
Clan Moncreiffe is a Highland Scottish clan.
Clan Spalding is a highland Scottish clan and sept of Clan Murray. The clan does not have a chief recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms so the clan is considered an armigerous clan. The Spalding family lived in Perthshire, Scotland, for one hundred and sixty three years before 1746, and dispersed to Germany, Sweden, Jamaica, Georgia, Liverpool, Virginia and elsewhere. The Castle of Ashintully was the clan centre in Perthshire.
Major-General Alastair Andrew Bernard Reibey Bruce of Crionaich, is a journalist and television correspondent, and a senior British Army reservist and officer of arms in the Royal Household. He commanded the TA Media Operations Group before being appointed Governor of Edinburgh Castle in 2019.
Paul Mealor CLJ FLSW is a Welsh composer. A large proportion of his output is for chorus, both a cappella and accompanied. He came to wider notice when his motet Ubi Caritas et Amor was performed at the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011. He later composed the song "Wherever You Are", which became the 2011 Christmas number one in the UK Singles Chart. He has also composed two operas, four symphonies, concerti and chamber music.
Clan Stuart of Bute is a Highland Scottish Clan and is a branch of the larger Clan Stewart.
Clan Forbes is a Highland Scottish clan from Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Clan Kirkpatrick is a Lowland armigerous Scottish clan. There are several variations of the Kirkpatrick name: Kilpatric, Kilpatrick, and Gilpatrick. The names Kirkpatrick and Kilpatrick may have been interchangeable at one time. The clan is recognised by the Court of the Lord Lyon, however the clan does not currently have a chief so recognised. The surname Kirkpatrick is also a recognized sept of Clan Douglas and Clan Colquhoun.
Clan Bissett is a Scottish clan. The clan is recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms but does not have a clan chief recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, therefore the clan has no standing under Scots Law. Clan Bissett is considered an armigerous clan, meaning that it is considered to have had at one time a chief who possessed the chiefly arms; however, no one at present is in possession of such arms. The surname Bissett is also considered a sept of the Clan Fraser of Lovat.
Ronald Stewart Watt OBE is a Scottish master of Shotokan karate. He is the founder, president and chief instructor for the "National Karate Institute Scotland" a member of the World Karate Confederation (WKC).
Carruthers, a Scottish Lowland clan and family from Annandale in Dumfriesshire.
Bruce Anderson is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Scottish Premiership club Kilmarnock. He has previously played for Aberdeen, where he came through the ranks from the age of 11, Elgin City, Dunfermline Athletic, Ayr United, Hamilton Academical and Livingston.