Embassy of Japan in Ireland


About Us Our Activities (December 2007)

		17/12/07 Opening of "Japan Room" in the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation On December 17, a "Japan Room" was opened in the building of the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation in Wicklow, which is devoted to peacebuilding and reconciliation within and between conflicting communities, and Ambassador Hayashi attended the opening ceremony. Following the installation of new equipment and furnishings, which was supported by the Embassy, Sony Ireland and Glen Dimplex, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Ireland, the Centre's Common Room was named the "Japan Room", and a commemorative name plate was put on the room. 07/12/07 A Celebration of the Musical Links between Japan and Ireland On 7 December, the Ireland Japan Association (IJA) and the Embassy of Japan held a concert entitled “A Celebration of the Musical Links between Japan and Ireland ” at the Coach House of Dublin Castle (sponsored by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd.). Commemorating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Ireland, Mr William Dowdall (flute), Mr John Feeley (guitar), Mr Philip Horan (shakuhachi, or bamboo flute), and Mr Junshi Murakami (Irish harp) played both Irish and Japanese music to showcase the cultural links between the two countries. The near capacity audience of over 100 people enjoyed such classical contemporaries as Toru Takemitsu’s ”Towards the Sea” as well as more familiar tunes such as the Last Rose of Summer (well-known as Niwa no Chigusa in Japan), and the interaction between flute and shakuhachi. The audience seemed to enjoy the concert so much as would be suitable for one of the closing events of the successful 50th anniversary. 05/12/07 Lecture on Ukiyo-e by Mr. Kenji Hinohara On 5 December, as part of the series of events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Ireland, a lecture on Ukiyo-e (Japanese woodblock prints) by Mr. Kenji Hinohara, Chief Curator at the Ota Memorial Museum of Art in Tokyo, was held at the National Museum of Ireland (Collins Barracks). This lecture was followed by the examination of the Ukiyo-e collection of the National Museum of Ireland by Mr. Hinohara in August 2007, and on that day, about 70 people were eagerly listening to Mr. Hinohara's lecture on the history and manufacturing process of Ukiyo-e and how to appreciate it. 03/12/07 Launch of Japanese Textbook "Nihongo Kantan" On 3 December, Ambassador Hayashi launched a general Japanese textbook (author: Ursula Zimmermann, design & layout: Patricia Leavey) at a ceremony at the Clock Tower of the Department of Education and Science in Dublin. The publication of the textbook, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Ireland, is expected to contribute to increasing further the number of learners of Japanese in Ireland which has been steadily growing in recent years .