ALL eyes are on Gregor Townsend and his squad today as they are due to take on – typhoon permitting – hosts Japan in the Rugby World Cup.

While we hope Scotland make it to the last eight, our immediate thoughts will be with families and communities in Japan dealing with the impact of Typhoon Hagibis.

The match today also marks another milestone in the long-lasting links between our two nations.

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Scotland’s relationship with Japan dates back over 150 years to the days of Fraserburgh merchant Thomas Blake Glover, known as the “Father of Japanese Industry” for his work on the railways, shipbuilding and brewing.

Nagasaki – his home for many years – is where his influence is felt the most. Our national rugby team have also made a lasting impression within Nagasaki after the team chose it as their pre-World Cup training base.

Nagasaki is where my own week in Japan started, leading a trade mission to explore new opportunities for partnerships working in renewable energy, offshore industry, healthcare and food and drink.

There are 100 Japanese-owned businesses in Scotland across 235 sites, employing 7260 staff and generating a turnover of more than £1.9 billion.

After meeting major companies and government ministers in Nagasaki and Tokyo, I was pleased to announce £9 million from a joint fund, run by Scottish Enterprise and the Nippon Foundation, to help Japanese and Scottish companies work together on innovative subsea technology.

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In Tokyo I met executives from Mayekawa, a refrigeration company which is opening an office in Glasgow, creating jobs and supporting Scotland’s economy.

While Japanese business are keen for Scottish expertise, renewables technology and to hear more about our world-leading climate change targets, our high-quality food and drink is also in great demand.

I visited Genki, a chain of sushi restaurants running a special promotion on Scottish salmon, and visited the Hotel New Grand in Yokohama, whose head chef told me how popular the combination of Scottish Salmon and Harris Gin is with his customers. Together with Scotch Beef being back on the menu in Japan for the first time in more than 20 years, the opportunities we have to showcase our produce should continue to grow.

Scotland and Japan’s cultural links also continue to strengthen. I was pleased to announce that the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra will be performing at next year’s Edinburgh International Festival and that the Scottish Government is supporting the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra’s residency at the first-ever BBC Proms Japan with a £50,000 grant.

In these uncertain times, it has never been more important to tell the world that Scotland is open for business. It has been my privilege to take that message to Japan so we can continue to do business, exchange ideas and enjoy shared cultural experiences for the next 150 years and more.