What connects Dundee, Montrose and a Japanese cricket charity helping victims of a devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit the country?
Somewhat bizarrely the answer is Alex Miyaji, the half-Scottish head of the Japan cricket association, who brought the national team on a tour of the UK with of his Cricket for Smiles charity.
The project helps children and communities affected by the 2011 disaster by providing them with equipment and somewhere to play the sport.
Alex said: “It is a great sport to be able to play with limited space. That is valuable because most of the sports grounds are now taken up by temporary housing.
“Around 200,000 people were moved in just after the earthquake and they are all still there.
“It is a stress for people living in sheds so we are getting kids out. They can play anywhere and anyone can play.”
North-East Scotland Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone was instrumental in bringing the teams over for the fundraising mission and he knew Mr Miyaji had Scottish heritage but it turned out the relatives were much closer to home.
His mum, Wendy Miyaji (formerly Young), was born in Dundee but grew up in Montrose where her parents, Jean and Bob, lived. As a result, Alex visited Dundee and Angus a lot while he was growing up.
“I remember doing a lot of travelling around Montrose and going to see the Discovery,” he added.
Mr Johnstone said: “I was delighted to welcome Alex Miyaji, who has done an incredible amount of work promoting cricket and raising funds for the charity Cricket for Smiles, and the teams to the Scottish Parliament.
“They told me that they had found a very warm welcome and I am certain that they will travel back to Japan with some very happy memories.”