Karuta Tournaments at the Ambassador’s Residence
2026/1/22
On 22 January, Dr Peter MacMillan, renowned translator of Japanese literature, and the Embassy of Japan in Ireland hosted karuta tournaments at the Ambassador’s Residence.
The students competed using Dr MacMillan’s English translation of Hyakunin Isshu, a compilation of 100 classical Japanese poems from 1 poet each. Dr MacMillan and students took turns reading out the poems to the competitors, who raced to snap the card on the floor with the same poem written on it. Students from St Conleth’s College and UCD each competed in the traditional game where ‘Snap’ meets classical poetry!
The Government of Japan announced the recipients of the 2024 Autumn Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals. Dr MacMillan was conferred with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, in recognition of his contribution to the introduction and dissemination of Japanese culture through the English translation of Hyakunin Isshu (One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each).
This month, Dr MacMillan was also the first foreigner to be invited by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan to read a poem at this year’s Utakai Hajime (歌会始, Imperial New Year’s Poetry Reading).
More information about the Utakai Hajime here.
The students competed using Dr MacMillan’s English translation of Hyakunin Isshu, a compilation of 100 classical Japanese poems from 1 poet each. Dr MacMillan and students took turns reading out the poems to the competitors, who raced to snap the card on the floor with the same poem written on it. Students from St Conleth’s College and UCD each competed in the traditional game where ‘Snap’ meets classical poetry!
The Government of Japan announced the recipients of the 2024 Autumn Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals. Dr MacMillan was conferred with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, in recognition of his contribution to the introduction and dissemination of Japanese culture through the English translation of Hyakunin Isshu (One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each).
This month, Dr MacMillan was also the first foreigner to be invited by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan to read a poem at this year’s Utakai Hajime (歌会始, Imperial New Year’s Poetry Reading).
More information about the Utakai Hajime here.
