January - 1 月 2009 Ambassador's message I would like to ... - Ireland

Ambassador's message
I would like to start by wishing everyone a peaceful and happy New Year from
myself, Margaret and the Embassy team. 2009 is the year of the ox which, I am told, means values
of perseverance and tenacity are to the fore. We will all need these gambarou qualities in 2009 and
the Embassy team looks forward to working with you all in the year ahead to further strengthen the
many ties that link Ireland and Japan. I am particularly delighted that the Japanese started 2009 with
an Irish flavour with Enya's concert on NHK's new year's eve programme.
2009 is certainly off to a good start with the official visit to Japan by the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen,
earlier this month.You can read more about the visit below. The year ahead will undoubtedly
be challenging economically for both Ireland and Japan and the trade mission which accompanied
the Taoiseach contributed to growing trade and investment between the two countries. This will be a
major focus for the Embassy and the Government Agencies in the period ahead.
Looking forward, we have the Ireland Festival throughout Japan in March with the usual mix of
parades, celebrations and events. This year's Festival looks set to be bigger and better than ever
before and I hope many of you will get a chance to take part. Full details will shortly be available on
the Embassy website and this years' Festival brochure.
The Embassy is starting the new year with a new look newsletter which I hope you will enjoy
reading. As ever, we welcome your feedback, so let us know what you think.
Brendan Scannell
Official Visit to Japan by the Taoiseach
The Taoiseach, Brian Cowen T.D., paid an official visit to Japan at the invitation of the Japanese
Government from 12 - 17 January. The Taoiseach was accompanied by over seventy Irish
companies on a trade mission organised by Enterprise Ireland and the IDA. Whilst in Japan the
Taoiseach spoke at a number of business events including an IDA symposium on Research and
Development, an Enterprise Ireland business lunch and seminars and Tourism Ireland, Bord
Bia (the Irish Food Board) and the Irish Funds Industry Association promotional events. he also
met with a number of senior Japanese business figures and companies and presided over
announcements by a number of Irish companies and their Japanese partners. The Taoiseach also
delivered a foreign policy speech at Keio University and paid a courtesy call on Emperor Akihito.
He was the guest of Prime Minister Aso for a working meeting and dinner during which a range
of economic, trade and political issues were discussed.
The Taoiseach was accompanied on the visit by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food,
Brendan Smith, who held meetings at the Ministry for Agriculture to promote Irish food
and beverage exports to Japan, and by Minister of State for Trade and Commerce, John
McGuinness. Minister McGuinness travelled with the trade mission to Toyota and Osaka for a series
of business promotion meetings and hosted a major business lunch in Osaka attended by Ireland's
January - 1 月 2009

Consul General in Kansai, Kunio Takeda. Speaking at the end of the visit, the Taoiseach said he
hoped the visit provided a firm basis from which to further deepen the political, business and
cultural ties between Ireland and Japan and invited Prime Minister Aso to visit Ireland in 2009.
Ireland Japan Chamber of Commerce
Mr Seiji Kasama, CEO of Dimplex Japan, was elected President of the Ireland Japan Chamber of
Commerce in November. The IJCC's year kicked off with a reception in honour of the Taoiseach's
visit and Mr Kasama and the Board of Directors are planning a full programme of events in 2009.
Job Opportunity: Chamber Manager post
The Ireland Japan Chamber of Commerce (IJCC) wishes to recruit a full-time manager to take
responsibility for the day to day management of its affairs. The manager post will be located in the
office of one of the Chamber's member companies and will work under the direction of the President
and the Board of the IJCC. Responsibilities of the job will include managing the Chamber's affairs,
organising events, liaising with members and updating the website. The successful candidate should
have good written and communication skills in English and Japanese and a valid work permit, if
required. A knowledge of or interest in Ireland-Japan relations would also be an advantage. For full
details of this position please contact Mr Takeshi Tsukii, one of the Chamber's Board members,
at main@ct-brand.com. The deadline for applications is 31 January 2009.
Networking Drinks, 5 February
The next regular informal networking evening will take place on Thursday, 5 February from 7pm at
La Boheme, Kita Aoyama - Omotesando station Exit B2 This event will be jointly hosted with the
Australia and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce. As usual, there is no cover charge, it is simply
a pay-for-what-you-order system so you have flexibility to come and go when you please. Demand
is expected to be high so please RSVP by email to secretariat@ijcc.jp as soon as possible to book
your place.
RTÉ podcast: 'Ireland of Tomorrow - A Presidential Lecture Series'
RTÉ radio broadcast three special programmes over the New Year holiday examining the kind of
Ireland that might emerge in the coming years. The programmes, 'Ireland of Tomorrow - A
Presidential Lecture Series', were broadcast in the Liveline slot on Radio 1 and are based on idea by
President McAleese. The aim of the three programmes is to discuss the nature, shape and values of
Ireland in the period ahead, including against the background of the current economic
challenges. The President's hope was that such a series might prompt a wider conversation
throughout the island and also the Irish diaspora around the world.
The series was recorded in front of an audience of young people at Áras an Uachtaráin, hosted by
the President and moderated by RTÉ's Joe Duffy. Each programme had a sub-theme addressed by a
guest keynote speaker - Martin O'Neill (Manager of Aston Villa football club ) on 'What it means
to be Irish'; Professor Louise Richardson (Harvard) on 'Ireland's Role in the World'; and Pádraig Ó
Ceidigh (Chairman of Aer Arann) on 'Ireland - Economy or Society'. The series is available on
podcast on the RTÉ website at http://www.rte.ie/radio1/presidential/.
Upcoming Events
The highlights of the 2009 Ireland Festival are set out below. Many of the events and parades have asked
for volunteers to help out on the day so if you are interested in getting involved click on the links below.
Parades in 2009

Kumamoto: Saturday, 7 March www.kumamotoparade.com
Ise: Saturday, 7 March http://isepaddysdayparade.googlepages.com/
Kyoto: Sunday, 8 March www.inj-kansai.com
Matsue: Sunday, 8 March www.sanin-japan-ireland.org
Okinawa: Saturday, 14 March www.inj.or.jp
Tokyo: Sunday, 15 March www.inj.or.jp
Nagoya: Saturday, 21 March www.stpatricksnagoya.com
Yokohama: Saturday, 21 March www.inj-yokohama.com
Tsukuba: Saturday, 28 March http://stpatricksdayparade.tsukuba.ch/
Sendai: (TBC)www.stpatricksdayjapan.com
IJCC Business Event: Thursday, 12 March. Venue: Embassy Residence. The Chamber of
Commerce will host a business speaker evening with a high profile speaker from the world of
Japanese business followed by a buffet reception. Details available on www.ijcc.org
The Emerald Ball 2009: Saturday, 14 March. Venue: Westin Hotel, Ebisu Tokyo. A gala fundraising
event, in the elegant Westin Hotel Tokyo, over St Patrick's weekend
2009. www.emeraldballtokyo.com
Japan GAA St Patrick's Day Party: Saturday, 14 March. For details please email
japangaa@gmail.com or www.japangaa.com The annual sports day will take place this year on 12
April.
Ireland Festival 2009: Sunday, 15 March. Venue: Omotesando Hills, Tokyo. Performance of Irish
music and dance, presentation of tourist attractions and Irish products, presented by Tourism
Ireland. www.discoverireland.jp
The Coronas Live in Tokyo: Sunday, 15 March (details TBC). The Coronas have emerged as
one of Ireland’s most exciting new bands. An emphasis on song-writing and an original
acoustic sound has left the band with an ever-growing following around country. Their
debut album Heroes or Ghosts lodged in the Irish Charts for 26 weeks and led to their
nomination as Best Irish Pop Act at Meteors Music Awards in 2008. www.thecoronas.net
St. Patrick’s Day Symposium: Sunday, 22 March. Venue: Roundstone Irish Pub, Tennozu-Isle,
Tokyo. Japan-Ireland Society members present an afternoon of talk, music and fun. http://japanireland.karugo.com/
Questions & Feedback
The Embassy welcomes feedback on this newsletter and on all of its services. We're particularly
interested in hearing your views on how we can improve the newsletter. Please send any
questions or comments to tokyoembassy@dfa.ie with the subject line: feedback.
If you are no longer resident in Japan, or you do not wish to receive e-mail updates from the
embassy, please contact us at: tokyoembassy@dfa.ie
Embassy Details
AMBASÁID NA hÉIREANN/EMBASSY OF IRELAND
Ireland House
2-10-7 Kojimachi
Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 102-0083, Japan

The Embassy of Ireland is responsible for promoting and strengthening links between Ireland and
Japan. It represents the interests of the Irish Government in Japan in politics, trade, economics
and cultural relations. It looks after the welfare of the Irish community in Japan and provides
support to Irish citizens. It is also responsible for issuing Irish visas.
Mr. Brendan Scannell is the Ambassador of Ireland to Japan.
The Embassy team:
Mr. Gerard Keown (Deputy Head of Mission)
Mr. Shane Cahill (Second Secretary)
Ms. Aisling Braiden (Press & Culture Attaché)
Ms. Akiko Watanabe
Ms. Nobuko Hirai
Ms. Tomomi Nagoshi
Ms. Haruko Onda
Ms. Miwo Fukuda
Ms. Tomoko Kamimura
Mr. Kunio Takeda, Chairman of Takeda Pharmaceuticals, is the Honorary Consul of Ireland in
Osaka. (Please note that the Embassy in Tokyo remains responsible for supporting Irish citizens in
Osaka and the Kansai region).
Embassy Contact Details
Phone: +81 (0) 3 3263 0695
Fax: +81 (0) 3 3265 2275
Web: www.embassyofireland.jp
Email: tokyoembassy@dfa.ie
The Embassy is open to the public from 10:00 - 12:30 and from 14:00 - 16:00, Monday to
Friday. The Embassy visa office is open on Wednesdays from 14:00 - 16:00.
The Embassy is not responsible for external services and events or for the content of external
websites, information on which is provided in good faith for information purposes