Greeting from Ambassador-designate MIYAGAWA
2025/12/1
Thank you for visiting the official website of the Embassy of Japan in Ireland. My name is MIYAGAWA Manabu, the new Ambassador of Japan to Ireland.
At the outset, I would like to reiterate my sincere condolences on the passing of my predecessor and good friend, H.E. Mr. SHIMADA Junji, Ambassador of Japan to Ireland on 14 October. My thoughts and prayers are with Mrs. SHIMADA Kaoru and the bereaved family at this difficult time.
Former Ambassador SHIMADA began his mission in Ireland in December 2024. Once he arrived in Dublin, he vigorously devoted himself to the enhancement of bilateral relations between Japan and Ireland. In July 2025, the former Ambassador accompanied Taoiseach Micheal Martin of Ireland on his visit to Japan, participating in the Japan Ireland Summit and accompanying the Irish delegation on their visit to EXPO 2025, Osaka, Kansai, Japan. He was always sincere and diligent in executing his mission as Ambassador. Upon hearing the sad news, so many Irish and Japanese people in Ireland from both the public and private sectors expressed their condolences.
Former Ambassador SHIMADA entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in the same year as I did. In September, he talked to me by telephone a couple of times. At that time, he was in Tokyo, and I was in Okinawa at my previous post at the Okinawa Liaison Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). SHIMADA-san enthusiastically told me how wonderful Ireland is, touching upon the importance of our bilateral relations in detail based on his own experiences.
Ireland is indeed an important country for Japan. Many Japanese companies have invested in Ireland, while there have been vibrant people-to-people exchanges such as in education, the JET Programme, in rugby and other sports, and tourism among other fields across all generations. The story of KOIZUMI Yakumo (Lafcadio Hearn), a writer, translator and teacher of Japanese culture and literature, who had an Irish father and spent his boyhood in Ireland has been featured in a popular Japanese TV morning drama, “Bake Bake” (“The Ghost Writer's Wife” in English).
In addition to its attractiveness deriving from its history and rich culture, Ireland has a vast global network with ties to the U.K., Europe, the U.S. and the rest of the world. This gives further significance to Ireland as a strategic partner for Japan and Japanese enterprises today. We also look forward to the upcoming Irish Presidency of the European Union in 2026.
At the Japan Ireland Summit in Tokyo in July, it was reaffirmed that we will further develop our bilateral relations. In November, at the G20 Summit in South Africa, the Japanese Prime Minister and the Taoiseach spoke with each other briefly.
I happened to live and work in the U.K. about forty years ago. For the first two years, I was a trainee diplomat studying at university in England, and I travelled privately to Dublin and Sligo. I revisited Dublin eighteen years ago on an official trip from Tokyo. After eighteen years, I am looking forward to this opportunity to try my best, in close collaboration with the Government and people of Ireland, to build on what has been achieved by our predecessors from both countries, and to ensure the continuing safety and security of Japanese people living and travelling in Ireland. The Embassy of Japan in Ireland will keep making efforts to that end day by day.
The year 2026 will be the Year of the Horse according to the Japanese zodiac calendar. I have heard that both Irish and Japanese people are fond of horse racing, another area of common ground that enables us to get along well with each other. Keeping to the forefront of our minds the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Ireland in 2027, I look forward to visiting various places throughout Ireland to meet with you. Thank you for reading this greeting and I hope to see you soon.
MIYAGAWA Manabu
Ambassador-designate of Japan to Ireland
At the outset, I would like to reiterate my sincere condolences on the passing of my predecessor and good friend, H.E. Mr. SHIMADA Junji, Ambassador of Japan to Ireland on 14 October. My thoughts and prayers are with Mrs. SHIMADA Kaoru and the bereaved family at this difficult time.
Former Ambassador SHIMADA began his mission in Ireland in December 2024. Once he arrived in Dublin, he vigorously devoted himself to the enhancement of bilateral relations between Japan and Ireland. In July 2025, the former Ambassador accompanied Taoiseach Micheal Martin of Ireland on his visit to Japan, participating in the Japan Ireland Summit and accompanying the Irish delegation on their visit to EXPO 2025, Osaka, Kansai, Japan. He was always sincere and diligent in executing his mission as Ambassador. Upon hearing the sad news, so many Irish and Japanese people in Ireland from both the public and private sectors expressed their condolences.
Former Ambassador SHIMADA entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in the same year as I did. In September, he talked to me by telephone a couple of times. At that time, he was in Tokyo, and I was in Okinawa at my previous post at the Okinawa Liaison Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). SHIMADA-san enthusiastically told me how wonderful Ireland is, touching upon the importance of our bilateral relations in detail based on his own experiences.
Ireland is indeed an important country for Japan. Many Japanese companies have invested in Ireland, while there have been vibrant people-to-people exchanges such as in education, the JET Programme, in rugby and other sports, and tourism among other fields across all generations. The story of KOIZUMI Yakumo (Lafcadio Hearn), a writer, translator and teacher of Japanese culture and literature, who had an Irish father and spent his boyhood in Ireland has been featured in a popular Japanese TV morning drama, “Bake Bake” (“The Ghost Writer's Wife” in English).
In addition to its attractiveness deriving from its history and rich culture, Ireland has a vast global network with ties to the U.K., Europe, the U.S. and the rest of the world. This gives further significance to Ireland as a strategic partner for Japan and Japanese enterprises today. We also look forward to the upcoming Irish Presidency of the European Union in 2026.
At the Japan Ireland Summit in Tokyo in July, it was reaffirmed that we will further develop our bilateral relations. In November, at the G20 Summit in South Africa, the Japanese Prime Minister and the Taoiseach spoke with each other briefly.
I happened to live and work in the U.K. about forty years ago. For the first two years, I was a trainee diplomat studying at university in England, and I travelled privately to Dublin and Sligo. I revisited Dublin eighteen years ago on an official trip from Tokyo. After eighteen years, I am looking forward to this opportunity to try my best, in close collaboration with the Government and people of Ireland, to build on what has been achieved by our predecessors from both countries, and to ensure the continuing safety and security of Japanese people living and travelling in Ireland. The Embassy of Japan in Ireland will keep making efforts to that end day by day.
The year 2026 will be the Year of the Horse according to the Japanese zodiac calendar. I have heard that both Irish and Japanese people are fond of horse racing, another area of common ground that enables us to get along well with each other. Keeping to the forefront of our minds the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Ireland in 2027, I look forward to visiting various places throughout Ireland to meet with you. Thank you for reading this greeting and I hope to see you soon.
MIYAGAWA Manabu
Ambassador-designate of Japan to Ireland