The Famous Scottish Woman You've Never Heard Of

Rita Cowan, a name you probably haven't heard before. How did this Scottish woman from Kirkintilloch near Glasgow end up in Japan over 100 years ago and with her Japanese husband Masataka Taketsuru become instrumental in the origins of Japanese whisky and founding Nikka, one of Japan's best known and most successful whisky distilleries?
This is a story that has personally fascinated me ever since I first heard about it over 7 years ago. I've spent a lot of time living in Japan over the years and whenever I tell Japanese people I'm from Scotland, I'm often met with the response "Massan" in reference to the TV drama which was made about Rita and Masataka.
Since returning to Scotland, many Japanese viewers have requested me to visit Kirkintilloch and explore more about the story of Rita and Masataka in Scotland. I hope for those of you with an interest in this story, can enjoy seeing Kirkintilloch, the town where Rita and Masataka met and where their love story began.
🍿 WATCH NEXT:
ISLAY / WHISKY ISLAND: • Visiting The World's W...
SPEYSIDE WHISKY COUNTRY: • Visiting The World's W...
CAMPBELTOWN WHISKY CAPITAL: • Visiting the World’s W...
ISLE OF ARRAN: • Visiting The Scottish ...
SHETLAND ISLANDS: • I Travelled To The UK’...
EXTRA CONTENT ON PATREON:
🎬 Get access to exclusive uncut and bonus videos, behind-the-scenes content and sneak peeks into future projects - / ruthaisling
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 My Scotland Google Map: geni.us/L7sek2P
💌 Free Scotland Travel Guide: ruthaisling.com
MY OTHER SOCIALS:
📸 INSTAGRAM - / ruthaisling
🎥 FACEBOOK - / ruthaisling
📱 TIKTOK - / ruth.aisling
🌍 WEBSITE - ruthaisling.com
MY FAVOURITE TOOLS & GEAR:
🚽 Trelino - The best van toilet (Use code RUTHAISLING for a discount or gift): geni.us/lC0UmdH
🔋 Bluetti - My favourite van portable batteries: geni.us/ewxrm1v
🚐 GoBoony - My favourite van rental site: geni.us/YxVpAj1
🎵 Epidemic Sound - Music in my videos: geni.us/a1Qq
✈️ Safety Wing - My go-to flexible travel insurance: geni.us/yBV4Xey
WHO AM I?
If we haven't met before... Hi, I'm Ruth 👋 and I recently bought a campervan to travel my home country of Scotland after living overseas for 12 years. I’ve hardly seen anything or been anywhere in Scotland and now is the time to change that!
P.S. Some of the links in this description are affiliate links that I get a kickback from.

[@comerstruedream6445]

Please forgive me for the short notice. I was interested and pleased to see your video. I am a distant relative of Mr. and Mrs. Taketsuru. My father's mother, my grandmother to me, died of tuberculosis in her early 30s. The doctor at the hospital told her that she should recuperate in a place with clean air. She then told her relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Taketsuru, who live in Yoichi, Hokkaido, about the situation and they welcomed her. My grandmother rented a place called Hanare (In the traditional Japanese way of building a house, a small building was constructed on the same site with a main house and a hanare, a small building at a slight distance from each other.), which is not the main house of the Taketsuru family. When my grandmother was convalescing, Mrs. Rita was not asked to do so, but out of her kindness and desire to nourish my grandmother, she would sometimes make and bring her a traditional English vegetable soup. I now live on Ishigaki Island, the southernmost tip of Japan, but before moving from Tokyo, I really wanted to express my gratitude to the graves of Mr. and Mrs. Taketsuru, so I went to Yoichi, Hokkaido. This was to express my deep gratitude to Mr. and Mrs. Taketsuru, who not only took in my grandmother, who was suffering from tuberculosis, a contagious and incurable disease at the time, and lent her their house, but also made vegetable soup for her despite the risk of infection. As I watched this video, I offered a prayer of thanks again, remembering how I felt at that time. Thank you very much.

[@ruthaisling]

Hello! I'm thrilled to read your comment, especially knowing that you're related to Mr. and Mrs. Taketsuru. Thanks for sharing your grandmother's story. It's heartwarming to hear about her time living with Mr. and Mrs. Taketsuru in Yoichi, especially Mrs. Taketsuru's kindness in making vegetable soup. It's a unique story I haven't heard before. I'm envious of your life on Ishigaki Island! What an amazing place to call home. In 2021, I spent about a month there. By the way, my Scottish friend Sam operates a British fish and chip food truck called Bonnie Blue on the island. If you ever come across it, please say hi and try his delicious fish and chips!

[@user-rd9gc9hf8v]

待ってました！ リタさんのふるさとを見られて感激です。 自分は食べない「イカの塩辛」を作るのが誰よりも上手だったリタさん。 信念と努力の人だったんでしょうね。 マッサンとリタの深い愛情に感動！

[@ruthaisling]

イカの塩辛については興味深い、 特に彼女が自分で食べなかったとしたら。

[@thanarattakai]

日本人でもあまり作らないイカの塩辛をスコットランド人が作るとは！！！彼女が作った梅干しがツボに残って展示されてるそうです。

[@user-rd9gc9hf8v]

リタさんは料理自体が上手だったようでスコットランド料理も大変上手だったそうです。 日本料理もご主人が「最高」と太鼓判を押してますから。 沢庵も上手だったそうですよ。@@thanarattakai

[@gaku9506]

あの時代に日本に来られて大変なご苦労をされたと思います。素晴らしい女性ですね。

[@ruthaisling]

リタは素晴らしい女性だ！

[@user-uq3yj9do4f]

いつも憧れのスコットランドの紹介ありがとうございます。まさかリタの生家の写真や過ごした町の様子が見られると思っていませんでした。戦争の歴史は多くの家族がなくなり不幸な人を作りますね、しかし人を信じて１００年近く前に日本に渡ったリタは自分の意志の強い人だったのですね。 また、新しい旅の報告を楽しみにしています交通事故？動物にも注意してください。

[@ruthaisling]

スコットランドのビデオを見てくれてありがとう！

[@yokoscott4836]

Long time ago, I found the book you saw at museum in library and I was so fascinated. And later found out NHK Made the drama from that. I lived in USA, got married to American. I have so much respect to Rita. Your video was so awesome.

[@ruthaisling]

That’s amazing you found the book at the library! I think when you have lived away from your own country like you or I have, it makes you realise even more how hard it must have been for Rita!

[@koshihosokawa7849]

As a Nikka Whiskey drinker, I'm glad that you've put on such a great program.

[@ruthaisling]

Thank you for watching, I'm happy to hear you enjoyed it!

[@hot-chef-hokkaido]

北海道に住んでいますが、改めて勉強させていただきました！Ruthさんもまた北海道へいらしてくださいね😊👍

[@ruthaisling]

ビデオを見てくれてありがとう。北海道が大好きなので、また必ず訪れます。

[@user-nl4df1fd3h]

In Japan, ``san'' is added to a person's name as an honorific title. Ruth and Shota even called their car "Sunny-san." Since ``Masataka'' is long, the honorific ``san'' was probably added to make it ``Massan.'Thank you for posting the video. I'm looking forward to the next video.

[@ruthaisling]

Thank you for sharing, it makes so much sense now. I always thought it would be Masataka-san instead, I didn't realise shortening names was a thing people did!

[@teeup1760]

@@ruthaisling Shortening names, especially first names, is quite common and adding an honorific title such as san, kun and chan is also common in Japan. An interesting thing is that people would shorten Masataka (or Masaaki, Masahiro, Masanori, Masayuki, etc.) to Masa and might also add san, so it becomes Masa-san, which is quite natural, but it's kind of hard to pronounce, so some people may even shorten it to Massan. That is how Masataka becomes Massan. Similarly, you can be called Ru-chan if you like since your name, Ruth, is difficult for Japanese people to pronounce. Chan is a very friendly and kind of cute honorific title and perfectly suits young women (when you get, say, over thirty, you may want to be called Ru-san then. :) ).

[@user-nu5xs8cj5t]

スコットランドのウィスキーと日本のニッカウイスキーは昔から繋がりが有ったのですね、ルースさんの疑問は正孝がなぜマッサンと呼ばれたか、妻のリタが正孝をマッサンと呼んだからと言われていますよ、ルースさんがわざわざ日本のニッカウイスキーのルーツを訪ねてくれたのは感謝します、勉強になりました、ありがとう😉👍️🎶次回も楽しみに待ってます🤗

[@ruthaisling]

スコットランドと日本の間にこのようなつながりがあるのは素晴らしいことだ。マッサンという名前について教えてくれてありがとう。

[@user-nu5xs8cj5t]

@@ruthaisling Have a good van life trip🛻

[@sinmix]

Wouldn't it be nice if STV or BBC broadcasted Massan or a remake of their version in memory of Rita san for it is the love of Masataka and Rita that Nikka exists....

[@ruthaisling]

What a great idea, that would be so wonderful if that happened!

[@melocitysolo9574]

An epic feature-length drama on Japanese national television made Rita Japan's most famous Scot. The drama was very popular at the time and Rita was respected and loved by many Japanese. Charlotte Kate Fox, who played Rita, was American but her grandmother was Scottish. She loved Japanese dumplings, but refused to eat them during the filming of the drama so as not to gain weight. It would have been very painful to resist eating dumplings.🤣

[@ruthaisling]

Hahah wow, Japanese dumplings are so delicious. That must have been so difficult!

[@user-wl7zf6mc3w]

ルースさん　いつも素敵なスコットランドのリポート有難う。８４歳　姫路の宇仁菅(ウニスガ)です。今回はNHKの朝ドラ『マッサン』のリタさんふるさと カーキンティロックの詳しいリポート興味を持って拝見しました。マサタカ・リタさんの当時の様子がよくわかりました。ありがとう。

[@ruthaisling]

姫路からの応援ありがとうございました。ビデオを楽しんでいただけてうれしいです。

[@user-bo7tn4tq9q]

マッサンとリタの物語は、ホントに良かったです。NHKの朝ドラでは初めての外国人ヒロイン、シャーロット・ケイト・フォックスがとてもチャーミングでファンになりました。この後から、私はニッカのウィスキーをよく飲むようになりました。色々イメージが広がって、ホントに楽しめるウィスキーです！！！！！

[@nobuohanda8282]

It’s a very interesting story about relationships between Scotland and Japan. I had been watching this TV program on a real time. Most of Japanese calls a person “-san” as a polite way and sometimes used as a nickname. Then Masataka might be changed to call as “Mats-san” in a familiar and politely.

[@ruthaisling]

Yes, I believe the towns of Yoichi and Kirkintilloch are twinned together. Thank you for sharing about the name Massan, I was very curious about that.

[@fmlysrmy1672]

泣けてきます。ありがとう。

[@ruthaisling]

僕もだよ。 感動的な話だ！

[@YM0303]

良いものを観せていただきました、ありがとうございます。

[@ruthaisling]

コメントありがとう。

[@user-mk9ro4xq3q]

初めてお便り致します。小生当年72歳NHKドラマ「マッさん」以前からリタさんの事は書籍でかなり知っていました。朝ドラにすればドラマチックやのになーと思っていました。リタを演じたカナダ女性が素晴らしい！。当時の状況で日本への嫁入り⁈は大大冒険やったと思います。その勇気にだけでも感動してしまいます。他にも新渡戸稲造の奥さんやら寺崎英成？の奥さんとかヘボン式ローマ字を考案されたヘップバーン御夫妻とか欧米でも真摯なプロテスタントが沢山居られ、来日して日本の為に、夫の為に骨を埋める覚悟で来られた方々には深謝に耐えません。

[@ruthaisling]

コメントありがとう。 他の選手の話も興味深いです。

[@user-bt8bv5cn4b]

まさたかは、マッサン、よしおだったら、ヨッサンに成りますね。さんは敬称です。 以前、ルースさんがニッカの蒸留所に行ったときは、感動しました。

[@ruthaisling]

ニッカウヰスキー蒸留所が大好きでした。3回目も行きたい(笑)。

[@user-mu4sr2oc2f]

いつも普通に海外のドキュメンタリー番組を見ているようで、 とても為になるし、楽しくていつも終わるのがあっという間に感じます。

[@user-ok2cb8wu6q]

ニッカウイスキーの竹鶴は高くなってしまって庶民には手が届かなくなってしまった…ドラマは観ましたよ良かったです。故郷でリタさんがあまり有名で無いのは残念ですね…

[@ruthaisling]

値段は知らなかった。普段ウイスキーは買わないので(笑)！ 残念ですが、このビデオでリタについての認識が高まればと思います。

[@user-qo4ih5db1i]

非常に興味深く拝見致しました。ちなみに、私のお気に入りウイスキーは、ＮＩＫＫＡ　ＢＬＡＣＫ　ｃｌｅａｒ　です。 とても、コストパフォーマンスが良くＧＯＯＤです。😁

[@ruthaisling]

日本にいるときに買っておけばよかった。次回は試してみよう！

[@ericrabinowitz6390]

What an inspiring story of devotion, courage, and determination! Your own experience in Japan adds dimension to the story. On the hunt now for Nikka whisky here in Seattle.

[@ruthaisling]

I'll also need to try and find some in Scotland!

[@SalKnt]

👍ﾘﾀ＆ﾏｯｻﾝの短編ﾄﾞｷｭﾒﾝﾀﾘｰ😊. 現地(Scott)の方の視点からは初めてです. 出来の良いもの見せてくれてありがとうございます‼.

[@ruthaisling]

ビデオを楽しんでいただけてうれしい。ご視聴ありがとうございました。

[@sandymacdonald8485]

What a great story, I had no idea a scottish woman was involved in Nikka whisky.

[@ruthaisling]

It’s a shame she’s not more celebrated!

[@user-ul6be1pi1g]

マサタカは1979年まで生きてたんですね😳私が生まれる1年前❗マッサンのドラマはよかったです😌

[@oasisuxs]

貴重な資料を見せて頂き有難う御座います、変わらずお過ごしされて、嬉しく思います、元気で、事故の無いようお過ごしくださいね。

[@ruthaisling]

ありがとう。私は安全でいる。

[@user-xk8bk6kv4i]

@@ruthaisling スコットランドと日本は深い繋がりがあった事をルースに 教えて頂き有り難うございました。

[@myoujinnfuru5649]

今はニッカウイスキーの良いものは世界的に入手困難だそう。NHKの連続テレビ小説「マッサン」は非常に面白かったですね。

[@ruthaisling]

スコットランドで買ってみた。 一番安いボトルで60～70ポンド。

[@shun39able]

I live in iwate,Tohoku,japan. I went to Yoichi on a trip. I met Nikka whiskey there, and there was something thoughtful.Thank you for your trip to Scotland. すばらしいスコットランドの旅、楽しくみています。

[@ruthaisling]

あなたは北海道からそれほど遠くない。余市の蒸留所を訪問する機会があったことをうれしく思う！

[@pophooray3749]

"Thank you so much" 『マッサンとリタ』の物語をありがとう。 日本では、リタの物語はあまり知られていません。 「政孝と、その妻リタ」として語られています。 だから、今回のビデオは大変重要です！！ 「マッサン」は、リタが「政孝さん（Masataka さん）」をフレンドリーに呼んだのだと思います。 NHKのドラマ「マッサン」が放映された後、日本からウィスキーが無くなりました。 これは本当に「（スコッチ）ウィスキーが売れすぎて、原酒が無くなりそうだった」のです。 そのNHKドラマ「マッサンの主題歌」 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fITWeIyVorGdras もヒットしました。 良い歌です、スコットランドと日本の絆を感じます

[@ruthaisling]

コメントをありがとう。 テーマソングが大好きなので、今日も繰り返し聴きます！

[@nagino_matasaburo]

私もNHKのドラマ「マッサン｣にハマった者の一人です。 素敵な動画をありがとうございます😄

[@ruthaisling]

このビデオを見てくれてありがとう。

[@user-of9jx8pq3d]

ルースさん、ありがとう。とても素敵な動画で、何かスコットランドと日本の繋がりに心が揺さぶられます。今からスコッチウイスキーを飲みます。

[@ruthaisling]

ビデオを見てくれてありがとう。どのウイスキーがお好きですか？

[@user-of9jx8pq3d]

一番はグレーンモーレンジーですね。シングルモルトは格別です。

[@seanmcerlean]

That is an amazing story Ruth. Thanks for bringing it to life here. One thing that you would hope that will change is the reality that no matter our origins the world is an amazing place.

[@ruthaisling]

Thanks for your comment Sean, glad you enjoyed the video!

[@_drewcifer]

This was a great watch, Ruth! I've heard a lot about Masataka over the years at Nikka tastings so it's refreshing to see and hear more about Rita.

[@ruthaisling]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@bigschoolgaming8002]

Hello Ruth-San. I am Japanese. Thank you for sharing the story of Masataka Taketsuru and Rita Taketsuru. Masataka Taketsuru is from Takehara City in Hiroshima Prefecture, which is my mother's hometown. When I was a child (more than 40 years ago), my grandmother told me that Masataka-san of the Taketsuru family (who produced Japanese Sake) had founded whiskey manufacturing company, the famous Nikka Whiskey. Please come visit Takehara City next time. Takehara is known for its old townscape and is known as Little Kyoto, but it has also been used as a filming location for many movies, and is loved by movie people. Takehara is also the sacred place of the anime `Tamayura'.

[@ruthaisling]

It sounds like a lovely place. I will add it to my list of places to visit in Hiroshima prefecture, thank you for sharing! I have yet to explore much of Japan west of Hyogo.

[@user-lq5xr5ip7x]

Helloはじめまして〜🤗NHKテレビの朝ドラを観て感動してリタとマッサンの事を知りました!リタも日本に来ていろいろ苦労したと思いますが、マッサンを支え続けたのですね♪そして、自分には関係ないけど、この事を動画にして下さりありがとうございます!😊

[@ruthaisling]

彼女にとってはとても辛いことだったに違いない。コメントありがとう。

[@user-yo4fj3gc8t]

この街で恋をして結ばれたのですね～😊✨素敵な街ですね～❤️

[@terukimorinaga5910]

Ruth Aisling さん、感謝します。素敵な動画を有難う。

[@sandymclennan2073]

Thanks Ruth, I really enjoyed that video although I never heard the story before, must of been really hard for them both.....the research you do for all your videos make then really enjoyable and being Scottish myself but have been living in SW Wales since the early 70's due to work commitments I really enjoy your videos around Scotland......

[@ruthaisling]

Thank you for your lovely comment Sandy. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the video! It's really hard to imagine how difficult it must have been at the time for them!

[@ewanstevenson]

You're right; I'd never heard of her but she certainly must have been a fierce woman for her and Masataka's relationship to survive through their families' hostility. Not to mention uprooting and moving halfway around the world! Also, I'd always known that Scottish and Irish distillers took their skills to America and were the origin of many of America's famous whiskies, but I certainly didn't know that it went east too. Kanpai! 🥃

[@ruthaisling]

It must have been so tough, the NHK drama is really shows a lot of her struggles, if you ever get the chance to watch it, I recommend it!

[@iainf1]

I attended the reopening of the Ben Nevis Distillery in Fort William around 1990 and met Takeshi Taketsuru. He was most interested to hear that I was brought up in Kirkintilloch and knew the story, but sadly did not invite me to visit him in Japan.

[@ruthaisling]

Oh wow, that is amazing! I just checked online and see that he passed away a few years ago. How wonderful that you met him

[@iainf1]

@@ruthaislingHave you visited the Japanese Garden at Cowden, near Dollar in Clackmannanshire? Probably worth a video!

[@john-hl5tq]

If he lived in Takeshi's Castle, you had a lucky escape ... It's full of madmen and monsters.

[@miekkoide404]

今回も凄く勉強になりました。日本人である私が知らないこと日本人がスコットランドウィスキーの勉強をしささえてくれ方かルースさんと同じスコットランドとは！余市には絶対行きます。リタ通り散策します。いつも為になるお話ありがとう❤️

[@ruthaisling]

ありがとう。余市の旅を楽しんでください。

[@320ume7]

今から100年以上前に日本に来た外国出身の女性って大変だったと思う。 都内で欧米出身の女性は普通に目にしますが、当時の余市では奇異な眼で見られることも多くマッサンの愛情が無ければとても耐えられるものでは無かったでしょう。

[@ruthaisling]

余市は東京からかなり遠い。それがどのようなものであったか、想像するのは難しい！

[@TJO1913]

Great story Ruth . I'm familiar with Masataka and his involvement with the development of the whisky industry in Japan and heard about Rita, but never knew much about her. BTW The Good Spirits Co. In Glasgow is a wonderful shop. Thanks!

[@ruthaisling]

I’m happy you’d heard about her! I looked up the shop and it looks fantastic, I’ll pay it a visit next time I’m in Glasgow

[@andrewwest7934]

Hi Ruth, So last evening, as a subscriber, I watched your video about Rita Cowan and Massan. Today I revisited Scotlands People to start researching the "irregular marriage " of my Dumfries grandparents in Glasgow in 1920. To cut a long story short, I visited the scene of their marriage in Hope Street alongside Glasgow Central Station a couple of weeks ago and, realising that it was a multiple occupancy office in 1920, googled "irregular marriage" juts now to find out more, What a coincidence and surprise to find Scotlands People's article " ‘Massan’ the whisky pioneer and Rita Cowan his Scottish wife, 1920" as an example of this type of marriage less than 12 hours from you telling me about the "unknown" Rita and Massan! Now to find out why my two Doonhamers opted to get married in Glasgow when her sisters got married in the long demolished South Church Dumfries where their father was a lay preacher. Good fun when you live south of London. Great videos by the way!

[@ruthaisling]

What a coincidence, thanks for sharing! I had planned to go to the council offices where they had got married and film there but on the day I planned to go I found out about the new emission rules for diesel vehicles in Glasgow and in the end decided not to drive in! 😂

[@Norio1213]

Thank you for sharing the great story and the historic sight, that is so beautiful !!! By the way, "Massan" is just a nickname. Names of things or person with more than four syllables tend to be abbreviated, so "mas-san" had been used instead of "masataka-san," I guess!

[@ruthaisling]

So interesting to know, thanks for sharing!

[@user-js5su2sl1f]

I was very impressed with this video. You did a good job. Shota is also doing a good job. I hope you will do a good job with him back in Japan. I love Nikka.

[@ruthaisling]

I';m happy to hear you enjoyed the video, thanks for watching!

[@billk9856]

Don't usually comment before watching a video, but yesterday I bought a bottle of Nikka - 'Single Malt Yoichi'. 6pm Sunday evening here in Australia, perfect time to pour a dram and watch the perfect video.

[@ruthaisling]

That is fantastic, the perfect video to drink it with, enjoy!!

[@billk9856]

Wonderful video, thanks.

[@kzk2385]

ルースさんお久しぶりです。またルースさんを動画を観ることができて嬉しいです。 竹鶴政孝と竹鶴リタのことは、よく知っています。 二人の時代は不幸にも戦争の時代でしたが、二人の愛と努力が、世界的に評価される日本のウィスキーを育てました。 もっと詳しい二人の足跡など、この動画の続編が楽しみです。

[@ruthaisling]

うれしいコメントをありがとう。もっと紹介することがあるかどうかわからないが、もっと情報を探してみるよ。

[@plodonsteady4712]

Hi, watched about a dozen of your video's so far and enjoyed them all , this one in particular was very interesting as I've never heard of either of them before , you are a fantastic and genuine presenter and I wish you well with your channel, subscribed now

[@ruthaisling]

I'm glad you enjoyed it, thank you!

[@ronaldbayne1431]

Lovely little biography. A fascinating subject. Must now try some nikka whisky. Thanks for another gem. Rmb5*

[@ruthaisling]

Thanks for watching, hope you enjoy the Nikka whisky when you try it!

[@markp7745]

What a fascinating story.❤

[@karlbolton6460]

She sounds like a very courageous lady. Thank you and good job on the video.

[@ruthaisling]

Thanks for watching!

[@Green-ld4bh]

素晴らしいドキュメンタリー番組になっていますね。 とても興味深い内容でよかったです。 あと、景色がとても綺麗で感銘を受けました。とても良い所ですね。

[@ruthaisling]

ビデオを楽しんでいただけてうれしい。コメントありがとう。

[@fkb9490]

Nice story & told very well 👍🏼

[@ruthaisling]

Glad you liked it!

[@awanderingmelody]

Fantastic story!! We are enjoying your videos so much. You do such a nice job with showing off your beautiful country. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@ruthaisling]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@carolinecamley242]

What a fabulous story! You are correct…I had no clue who she and they were. Thank you for telling their story and now I will share this with my daughters who love having a mum from such an amazing country. Thank you again Ruth. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@ruthaisling]

Thanks for watching! She was an amazing lady!

[@sheilajoseph9953]

What an Amazing story, thankyou for sharing. 😊

[@seishiyasuda7730]

Wow such a beautiful story…very brave people

[@kazukuni4571]

日本のニッカウイスキーのルーツを訪ねていただき感謝します、有難う御座います勉強になりました。 また姫路に戻ってきてください。　　　　　　from HIMEJI jpn

[@ruthaisling]

姫路からのご視聴ありがとうございました。

[@user-rd5rq2wn9d]

The fabulous story of a true love. Thanks to let it know.

[@mickcorbett6724]

What an amazing story. Thanks Ruth for revealing it, in your own inimitable way. You are an incredibly impressive & talented woman who has made a compelling channel.

[@jonathankendrick248]

Really enjoyed that episode, thanks Ruth.

[@ruthaisling]

Thank you Jonathan!

[@janeburton7647]

Love biographies! Thank you for sharing about this remarkable Scottish woman!

[@ruthaisling]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@markiboy100]

I really enjoyed that. Thanks Ruth

[@ruthaisling]

So glad!

[@taigotoh9767]

Love the story.

[@happysporran]

What a lovely story, your interest really shone through Ruth.

[@ruthaisling]

That's great, I have such a fascination with this story!

[@kevza1978]

Fantastic story Ruth, And well put together. Looking forward to the next one already. :)

[@ruthaisling]

Thank you!

[@walksfromacountydurhambus6906]

Thank you for a really interesting documentary. More like this please.

[@ruthaisling]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@spotchapi6470]

Very interesting story! I am enjoying your videos exploring Scotland.

[@ruthaisling]

I’m glad you enjoyed the video!

[@marypost2353]

That was so interesting Ruth! Wonderful story! It is so interesting to see the place where they lived. It’s a lovely town. Great video!❤

[@ruthaisling]

Glad you enjoyed it! It's the most amazing story!

[@Annie4Always]

Totally fascinating! Thank you for sharing! Blessings to you Ruth!

[@ruthaisling]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Annie4Always]

@@ruthaisling Aye lass! I really did! Have a lovely day!🙂

[@user-ig3oq3zc8d]

ていねいな取材と美しい映像、テンポのいい編集。勉強になりました。NHKはここの博物館に「マッサン 」のDVDを寄贈してほしいと思います。日本語が分からなくても何となく意味はくみ取れますから。何より中島みゆきさんのテーマソングがいい。博物館はスコットランドと日本の交流拠点になれるはずです。

[@ruthaisling]

スコットランドのミュージアムのコレクションがもっと大きくなって、もっと多くのアイテムが含まれるようになればいいと思う。

[@Taka_op1]

Thank you so much for introducing Japanese whisky on your channel! 😊 I’m grateful for that as a Japanese whisky lover.

[@ruthaisling]

Thank you for watching!

[@alexanderbrooks7084]

Hi Ruth san, I love your videos, they're incredible! I wanted to share a bit of my family anecdotes. My mom, who passed away last year at the age of 88, She was born and raised in Yoichi, Hokkaido. She lived really close to the Nikka Whisky distillery, and actually, her family was neighbors with Rita and Masataka! My grandparents were a little younger than Masataka and Rita. but They were all friendly.Later my mom told me her family, including her sister and brothers were close with Rita's family, and they would often times get invited over for meals. I imagined they had Scottish dishes or maybe even cookie parties! When I was 10 years old, my family spent the whole summer in Yoichi, my mom's hometown. We came from Tokushima, where my dad's from. I remembered the Nikka Whisky distillery being just a five-minute walk away! But back then, my mom never mentioned knowing the Taketsuru family. It wasn't until I saw the NHK story "Masan" that I learned about Nikka, Taketsuru, and their Scottish connection with Rita. My sister told me that Mom used have a friendship with Taketsuru and always had a strong influence adventurous spirit, and that she probably got it from Rita, who moved all the way from Scotland to Hokkaido. Because my mom had adventurous life with my dad and then moved to Shikoku with her marriage. It's funny how things come full circle - I ended up living in the US from Japan, too!! Maybe my mom's adventurous spirit rubbed off on me after all. So yeah, you could definitely say I get my sense of adventure from Rita Scottish adventures lady!! OMG!! I wish to visit Scotland someday. I do appreciated that your recaps Nikka whisky history the flipped side. Also Ruth san your Scottish accent is so lovely and understandable to me. Thanks 👍

[@2gyaz671]

What a great topic to know. thanks you Ruth-san

[@ruthaisling]

Thanks for watching!

[@Robert.Sheard]

I had heard of Masataka Taketsuru and the beginnings of Nikka, and one of my favorite Japanese whiskies is Yoichi Single Malt (it's slightly peaty, so I'm guessing you'd love it), but we never hear about Rita Cowan. Thanks for sharing this history.

[@ruthaisling]

Glad you found the video interesting!

[@DavidMartin-gx8yl]

Hi Ruth, I enjoyed this episode even though I knew about her and the interesting story and Scottish connection behind the Japanese whisky. I’ll maybe see you and Ernie on the road in a few weeks as I’m going to tour the Outer Hebrides. If you’ve been there and have any hints and tips on where to visit or know of any hidden gems I’d love to hear about them. Thanks. Have a great week. 😊x

[@ruthaisling]

I'm really happy to hear you already knew about Rita Cowan! I've never been to the Outer Hebrides, hoping to go this year too! Please say hello if you do see Ernie!

[@wata5951]

Thank you for introducing the story of Rita and Massan (^ ^) Thanks to the two of us, I can drink Nikka whiskey🥃

[@ruthaisling]

It's a great story 😀

[@m.k0714]

とても感動しました。ありがとうございます。 I was very impressed. thank you.

[@user-lr4gv4wb7k]

当時の下宿先家があるんですね。

[@lemonicing-pie6546]

I'm glad to see Rita's beautiful hometown and the exibition corner of Rita and Massan. I remembered TV program "MASSAN" and their deep love.

[@ruthaisling]

I want to watch all the DVDs again!

[@ericcottrell8913]

Interesting story. We do not get enough stories about notable women in history. I wonder how many Scottish people are more famous outside of Scotland, like John Muir in the US, and John A. Macdonald in Canada. Brian McNeil wrote a song about John Muir titled "Muir and the Master Builder" (I prefer Dick Gaughan's version).

[@terry499]

Well documented, well done. I haven't watched the NHK program Massan yet. It would be great if it were broadcast in English in the UK. I would definitely watch it.

[@ruthaisling]

Thank you, someone commented that STV should broadcast it, I wish they would!

[@bdr6199]

Nothing quite like you on KZbin (and I mean that in a nice way)😊 Interesting back story to this one in particular, but all of your videos informative in their own way, and I like how you choose the lesser known places and themes.

[@ruthaisling]

Haha thank you (I think 😅). I much prefer these lesser known places and stories so there will be more to come

[@lindasimson7790]

This is a great story Ruth, I had never heard of Rita before, will certainly go too Kirkintilloch to see the Museum, I live near Girvan, on the South West of Scotland, So it isn’t that far, take care xxx❤

[@ruthaisling]

Oh lovely, I spent 2 summers living in Girvan, such a nice place!

[@user-xq3lo4qv8k]

リタさんの故郷が素晴らしいですね😂

[@davieislay]

Ruth, this is magical. ❤

[@ruthaisling]

Thanks Davie!

[@user-eb7hv1vu9o]

My husband's friends called Masataka "MASSAN". She also used Rita because it was easier to pronounce.

[@lesliewatts7537]

So interesting...................... another great video, congrats.

[@ruthaisling]

Thank you Leslie!

[@mickclark427]

Hello Ruth mick from Hull another lovely episode hope you are well I will look forward to your next episode xx😊😊

[@ruthaisling]

Thank you! 😊

[@richardkotowski2268]

Interesting that whiskey and the best way to embellish one's life through love from a Japanese San and Scottish lass.

[@colinblack7049]

As usual Ruth, an excellent video, great to watch and educational to boot. Do I detect a whisky drinking theme with these last few videos?😀😀.

[@ruthaisling]

Thanks for watching! I didn't mean to make so many whisky related videos, it just happened haha!

[@craigwilliams4161]

Superb Ruth, a beautiful story of two people their dream and love

[@georgewalker2269]

It was nice to see you where in my home town, I really enjoyed the story off Rita

[@ruthaisling]

Did you already know of the story?

[@georgewalker2269]

@@ruthaisling I had heard about her when I was doing some research into whisky. The next time your in the area give a shout and I'll buy you a coffee

[@MikeWood]

When watching the intro I wondered it if was Nikka. :) Really interesting story. Thanks for sharing. :)

[@ruthaisling]

Haha great! Thanks for watching

[@johnclankie324]

Very interesting story, I visited Japan when I was serving in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary both Honshu and Hokkaido, the only Whisky we tried was San Tory, it was very interesting country to visit. Keep them coming Ruth, I am actually from Arbroath, famous for “Smokies!” Cheers Mike🥃

[@ruthaisling]

Thanks Mike! I was in Arbroath last week and tried the smokies, very delicious!

[@shaileecowan6688]

Never heard of this story before, my family on my dads side came from Scotland. Wonder if i am related to Rita?🤔 i love japan and Scotland, they are number ones on my list to see❤

[@ruthaisling]

Hope you can visit both of them sometime!

[@GK49245]

Excellent review. Nikka whiskies are hard to find near us.

[@ruthaisling]

They have been hard to find in Scotland too!

[@Docter730]

今回の動画が今までの中で一番良かったです。正直言ってスコットランドの景色は二つ見ただけで変わり映えしなく飽き飽きしていたところです。NHKのマッサンも見ませんでしたので内容は知りませんでした。

[@laurencejohnson4106]

A very interesting video!👍👍

[@ruthaisling]

Thank you!