Hiroyuki Ikema

In 1958 while a student at the University of New York, Mr Ikema joined the New York Branch of the RSCDS.  After meeting Miss Milligan in 1963, he was encouraged to form a Branch in Tokyo. The correspondence between him and Miss Milligan continued until her death in 1978.

Mr Ikema began teaching Scottish Country Dancing in Japan and with the support of the Japan Folkdance Federation, he promoted the release of 11 recordings of Scottish Dances played by Jimmy Shand, including dances such as The Eightsome Reel and Monymusk.  Thus began Scottish Country Dancing in Japan.

In 1981 Mr Ikema proposed that a Branch be formed in Tokyo and, as a result of his efforts, the Tokyo Branch was approved by the Society in 1984.

He trained and supported more than 10 candidates for the Teachers' Examinations.  Mrs Masako Naitoh and Mrs Junko Matsuhashi were the first ones to pass the examinations in the 1980s. They followed Mr Ikema's example and now there are over 80 fully certificated teachers in Japan.  His protégées, Mrs Naitoh and Mrs Matsuhashi then went on to form other Japanese branches, Tokai and Saitama.

too much to say that Mr Ikema is the Father of Scottish Country Dancing in Japan.