Japan and Ireland – Exchanges in the Field of Animation
2026/9/12
Kilkenny Animation Festival
Kilkenny Animation Festival
On 12 September, Ambassador MIYAGAWA Manabu and Mrs MIYAGAWA Noriko visited the Watergate Theatre in Kilkenny, where they attended the “Director’s Masterclass” held as part of the Kilkenny Animation Festival. The Masterclass featured two invited guests from Japan: director YAMADA Naoko and SAKITA Kohei, Producer and Director at Science SARU. They spoke to a large Irish audience about the making of animated films.
Following the Masterclass, the Ambassador and Mrs MIYAGAWA shared approximately an hour and a half exchanging views with representatives of Cartoon Saloon, Animation Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Screen Ireland, the Ireland Japan Chamber of Commerce, Lighthouse Studios, and Brown Bag Films on animation, cultural, and economic exchanges between Japan and Ireland.
Ms Nora Twomey, who joined the Noh Workshop at the residence of Ambassador of Japan on 1 July (*see FB article dated 11 July), and Tomm Moore, both from Cartoon Saloon and co-creators of the Irish animated series “Puffin Rock”, which also has many fans in Japan, also took part in the discussion. They shared valuable insights into the history of animation in Ireland over the past 25 years.
The Embassy of Japan in Ireland will continue to take various opportunities to further deepen exchanges between Japan and Ireland in the field of animation, looking ahead to the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Ireland in 2027.
Following the Masterclass, the Ambassador and Mrs MIYAGAWA shared approximately an hour and a half exchanging views with representatives of Cartoon Saloon, Animation Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Screen Ireland, the Ireland Japan Chamber of Commerce, Lighthouse Studios, and Brown Bag Films on animation, cultural, and economic exchanges between Japan and Ireland.
Ms Nora Twomey, who joined the Noh Workshop at the residence of Ambassador of Japan on 1 July (*see FB article dated 11 July), and Tomm Moore, both from Cartoon Saloon and co-creators of the Irish animated series “Puffin Rock”, which also has many fans in Japan, also took part in the discussion. They shared valuable insights into the history of animation in Ireland over the past 25 years.
The Embassy of Japan in Ireland will continue to take various opportunities to further deepen exchanges between Japan and Ireland in the field of animation, looking ahead to the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Ireland in 2027.
Kilkenny Animation Festival