A top diplomat has completed a whistle-stop tour of Glasgow packed with football, art, and more.
Japan’s ambassador to the UK, Hiroshi Suzuki, visited the city last week, sharing his impressions and experiences through his now-signature upbeat and playful social media posts.
Ambassador Suzuki began his visit at Celtic Park on February 11, where he watched Celtic’s 2-1 win over Livingston and cheered on Japanese players Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda .
Excited to be @CelticFC !! Go Daizen⚽️! Go Reo⚽️! Truly “a club like no other”👍 pic.twitter.com/HJFlbafeAr
— Hiroshi Suzuki (@AmbJapanUK) February 11, 2026
He wrote: "Excited to be @CelticFC!! Go Daizen! Go Reo! Truly ‘a club like no other’."
The ambassador also posted a light-hearted video from the Celtic boardroom, enjoying a pint of Tennent’s lager and captioning it with the Glaswegian phrase: "A wee swally."
A wee swally!!🍺👍 pic.twitter.com/AzhIuqXasI
— Hiroshi Suzuki (@AmbJapanUK) February 11, 2026
Later in his visit, he met with members of the Japanese business community at Ardnamurchan, a restaurant on Hope Street that puts a modern twist on traditional Scottish dishes.
The restaurant team said on social media: "Today we had the honour of hosting His Excellency Hiroshi Suzuki, Ambassador of Japan to the UK, along with members of the Japanese business community in Glasgow, at Ardnamurchan Restaurant and Bar.
"Moments like these are a reminder that restaurants are more than places to eat.
"They are spaces where relationships are built, ideas are exchanged, and international connections are strengthened."
Suzuki continued his Glasgow tour with a visit to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
He posted a photograph of himself and his now-regular travel companion, a Paddington Bear toy, gazing up at Salvador Dalí’s Christ of St John of the Cross.
He wrote: "Visited @KelvingroveArt. Moved to see up close one of Scotland's favourite paintings – Dalí’s Christ of St John of the Cross!"
Visited @KelvingroveArt . Moved to see up close one of Scotland's favourite paintings - Dalí's Christ of St John of the Cross! pic.twitter.com/Pzw1kHUCPl
— Hiroshi Suzuki (@AmbJapanUK) February 12, 2026
Next on the itinerary was a city centre stop outside the Gallery of Modern Art, where he snapped a photo in front of the Duke of Wellington statue.
He wrote: "Found the world's most famous traffic cone in the centre of Glasgow!"
He then visited the Glasgow City Chambers, where he was welcomed by Lord Provost Dr Jacqueline McLaren.
Dr McLaren shared: "Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Suzuki visited the City Chambers as part of his visit to Glasgow along with his friend Paddington Bear.
"We chatted all about the City and heard all about his trip and where he is going next.
"Enjoy the rest of your visit to Glasgow."
Enjoyed great conversation with @LordPRovostGCC at the stunning, historic Glasgow City Hall!😃 pic.twitter.com/48xZb9mLOS
— Hiroshi Suzuki (@AmbJapanUK) February 12, 2026
The ambassador also took in a night at the theatre, attending The Great Wave at the Theatre Royal.
The opera, inspired by the life and work of Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai, is a collaboration between Scottish Opera and KAJIMOTO.
The Great Wave. Mesmerising Opera on Hokusai!!
Powerful world premiere at Scottish Opera🌊✨ pic.twitter.com/jSWpCVPBLT— Hiroshi Suzuki (@AmbJapanUK) February 13, 2026
During the visit, he met MSP Angus Robertson .
He later posted: "Great pleasure meeting @AngusRobertson! Working together for a stronger partnership."
Suzuki also paid homage to a beloved West End figure by visiting the Hyndland Bear, a Paddington Bear figure that has delighted passers-by from a Hyndland Road window since the early 1980s.
He wrote: "Hanging out with my favourite cousin, The Hyndland Bear."
In true Glasgow style, he rounded off his culinary adventures with a visit to Shish Mahal on Gibson Street, widely credited as the birthplace of chicken tikka masala.
The restaurant team wrote: "A special visitor this week, Japan’s Ambassador to the UK, Hiroshi Suzuki, dropped in to experience the birthplace of Chicken Tikka Masala from Gibson Street to today, the welcome is still the same – and we’re proud this Glasgow story continues to travel the world."
The ambassador also visited the Terumo Aortic factory, a major medical device manufacturing site on the edge of the city.
He praised the company for producing "some of the most advanced medical devices" and said he was "deeply impressed" by the technology on display.
Hiroshi Suzuki is a veteran Japanese diplomat who has served as Japan’s Ambassador to the UK since September 2024.
He joined Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1985 and has held a series of senior roles, including Ambassador to India and Bhutan, Deputy Foreign Minister for economic affairs, and a key foreign affairs aide to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
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