On 18th June 2009, the opening ceremony for ��Friendship Beyond Boundaries�� took place at University Chapel, University of Glasgow. Among the participants were Sir Muir Russell, the Principal of the University, and HE Ambassador Shin Ebihara.

��Friendship Beyond Boundaries�� includes a photographic exhibition focusing on the interaction between Japan and Britain since 1858 and the re-creation of the human bridge model which was used to show some of the principles employed in the construction of the Forth Rail Bridge (see below). Moreover, as part of the ��Friendship�� project, a symposium entitled ��Towards a barrier free society�� was held on 16th June.

At the opening, Ambassador Ebihara expressed his gratitude to the University for holding this event as part of JAPAN-UK 150, which celebrates the passage of 150 years since the signing of the Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Amity and Commerce. He referred to the University��s long-standing ties with Japan in areas such as business and education from as early as 1872, and voiced his appreciation to Sir Muir and the University of Glasgow for their efforts to strengthen co-operation with Japan - ��a co-operation which is mutually beneficial��.

The photographic exhibition will be staged at the Embassy of Japan from December 2009 to January 2010.