About Us
2017/1/1
Ambassador Miyoshi’s Message (January 2017)
As 2017 begins, I would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year.
This year marks the milestone of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Ireland, which will get underway at an Opening Ceremony on 9 January to be attended by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Fumio Kishida, and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charles Flanagan.
This year is also the 350th anniversary of the birth of the Irish writer Jonathan Swift who is most well-known for “Gulliver’s Travels”. Published in 1726, the book tells how Gulliver visits many imaginary countries. The only place he visits that truly exists is Japan. At the time it was written, Japan was closed off to the outside world, but no doubt Swift was able to gather information about Japan from some source. Once Japan opened up to the world again after 200 years, the famous Iwakura Mission was dispatched to Europe in 1871. On 3 December 1872, we know the deputy leader of the Mission Takayoshi Kido, along with three other members, visited Dublin and enjoyed Guinness beer.
Japan and Ireland established diplomatic relations in 1957 and have travelled a prosperous road together as countries that share the values of freedom, democracy, respect for human rights, and the rule of law, in fields ranging from science to business, and sport to literature.
In 2013, reciprocal visits of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Taoiseach Enda Kenny were realised. In autumn 2016, Minister of State for Financial Services Eoghan Murphy TD, Minister of State for Training and Skills John Halligan TD and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mary Mitchell-O’Connor visited Japan. I hope that during the 60th anniversary in 2017 we will also be able to realise as many high-level visits as possible in both directions.
Ahead of the 60th anniversary, the Embassy opened a Facebook page in September of last year and preparations for the year ahead were made. Many events are already scheduled to take place. In January, we will begin with the 60th Anniversary of Japan-Ireland Diplomatic Relations Opening Ceremony and the Holiday World Show. In February, the Annual Ireland-Japan Association Dinner will be held. March sees the opening of the Surimono exhibition at the Chester Beatty Library and in April the Japanese Film Festival 2017 and Experience Japan 2017 will take place. In May, there will be a JETRO lecture and a piano concert by John O’Conor. We will try to keep you up to date throughout the year as much as possible and I look forward to seeing you all at these events and more.
I hope that 2017 will be a wonderful year for you all and for the relationship between our two countries.
This year marks the milestone of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Ireland, which will get underway at an Opening Ceremony on 9 January to be attended by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Fumio Kishida, and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charles Flanagan.
This year is also the 350th anniversary of the birth of the Irish writer Jonathan Swift who is most well-known for “Gulliver’s Travels”. Published in 1726, the book tells how Gulliver visits many imaginary countries. The only place he visits that truly exists is Japan. At the time it was written, Japan was closed off to the outside world, but no doubt Swift was able to gather information about Japan from some source. Once Japan opened up to the world again after 200 years, the famous Iwakura Mission was dispatched to Europe in 1871. On 3 December 1872, we know the deputy leader of the Mission Takayoshi Kido, along with three other members, visited Dublin and enjoyed Guinness beer.
Japan and Ireland established diplomatic relations in 1957 and have travelled a prosperous road together as countries that share the values of freedom, democracy, respect for human rights, and the rule of law, in fields ranging from science to business, and sport to literature.
In 2013, reciprocal visits of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Taoiseach Enda Kenny were realised. In autumn 2016, Minister of State for Financial Services Eoghan Murphy TD, Minister of State for Training and Skills John Halligan TD and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mary Mitchell-O’Connor visited Japan. I hope that during the 60th anniversary in 2017 we will also be able to realise as many high-level visits as possible in both directions.
Ahead of the 60th anniversary, the Embassy opened a Facebook page in September of last year and preparations for the year ahead were made. Many events are already scheduled to take place. In January, we will begin with the 60th Anniversary of Japan-Ireland Diplomatic Relations Opening Ceremony and the Holiday World Show. In February, the Annual Ireland-Japan Association Dinner will be held. March sees the opening of the Surimono exhibition at the Chester Beatty Library and in April the Japanese Film Festival 2017 and Experience Japan 2017 will take place. In May, there will be a JETRO lecture and a piano concert by John O’Conor. We will try to keep you up to date throughout the year as much as possible and I look forward to seeing you all at these events and more.
I hope that 2017 will be a wonderful year for you all and for the relationship between our two countries.