Exclusive Sake Tasting Workshop together with Yamamori | PHOTO GALLERY

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We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us on Thursday, April 10th for the exclusive Sake Tasting Workshop, hosted in collaboration with our 2025 Patron Member – Yamamori.

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Held at the beautiful Yamamori North City / Tengu, the evening was a true celebration of Japanese culture, springtime, and community spirit. The event brought together both IJA members and non-members for a unique blend of networking and cultural exploration through the world of Japanese sake.

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A very special thank you goes to our guest speaker, Sake Sommelier Sarika Seki Hussey, whose expertise, passion, and warm personality guided us through a curated selection of premium Japanese sake. Each sake was thoughtfully paired with delicious bites crafted by the talented Yamamori team, making the tasting not only educational but truly memorable.

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We are also immensely grateful to our event co-hosts and partners at Yamamori, who are celebrating a remarkable 30 years in business this year. This workshop was just one of the many exciting events planned to mark their anniversary, and we are incredibly proud to have them as our IJA Patron Member in 2025.

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Events like this are a wonderful reminder of the strong bonds between Japan and Ireland, and we are delighted to be able to bring people together to share experiences, knowledge, and of course – fantastic food and drink!

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We look forward to seeing you at our next event! Arigatou gozaimasu & Sláinte!

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Photos: Yamamori & Eddie Hughes, IJA Council

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Join the celebrations at the Experience Japan Festival on Sunday, 27th April!

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The Experience Japan Festival will be returning to the picturesque surroundings of Farmleigh House in Phoenix Park on Sunday, 27th April 2025.
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All IJA members are warmly invited to attend this vibrant, family-friendly event celebrating the rich cultural connection between Japan and Ireland. This year’s festival will showcase a special cultural programme highlighting three unique regions of Japan: Okinawa, Chichibu, and Miake.
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Date: Sunday, 27th April 2025
Time: 12 – 4 PM
Venue: Farmleigh House, Phoenix Park, Dublin
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This year’s programme is packed with amazing events for everyone! 
  • Get ready to be dazzled by Irish and Japanese music and dance performances on the Main Stage.
  • Enjoy delicious treats offered by Japanese food vendors at the Food Court, from sweets to savoury. Of course, expect some classic options as well!
  • Demonstrations from a mixture of martial arts which originated in Japan, and are practised here in Ireland.
  • Enjoy a Treasure Hunt aimed at children or a more challenging Scavenger Hunt for adults!
  • Take a tour of traditional Japanese crafts which have found a home in Ireland. Why not enjoy a calligraphy workshop and write your name in ink?
  • The Festival’s tradition of reading haiku and poetry under the cherry blossom continues this year.
  • Visit ‘Japanese Gaeltacht’ – a dedicated area in the Pleasure Gardens for practising your Japanese language skills, and meeting new friends!
  • Cosplay Showcase: an opportunity to see many cosplayers all in one place!
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Join us in the beautiful grounds of Farmleigh House to witness performances, demonstrations, seminars, and traditions both old and in the making! All events are free and everybody is welcome!
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How to get there?
The Hanami Festival 2025 is located in Farmleigh House, at the back of Phoenix Park, Dublin.
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For more information:
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Japanese Film Festival Returns To Screens Across Ireland This April

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The Japanese Film Festival Ireland returns for its 16th edition this April, bringing a selection of new and classic Japanese films to screens across Ireland.

Ireland’s only truly national film festival will showcase 16 films this year, from festival favourites to the latest anime features. The festival will run from April 1 – 26, with screenings in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Sligo, Waterford, Dundalk, Wexford, Bray and – for the first time – Ballina.

“It brings me great joy to see Ireland’s keen interest in Japanese cinema. The 2025 Japanese Film Festival boasts an impressive 16 films at 9 locations across Ireland. From the classic horror ‘The Snow Woman,’ which comes from the writings of Ireland’s very own Lafcadio Hearn, to the time travel comedy ‘A Samurai in Time,’ this year’s festival surely has something for everyone in Ireland.” – H.E. Mr. Junji Shimada, Ambassador of Japan to Ireland

This year’s selection includes the delightful fish-out-of-water time travel comedy A Samurai in Time, which last month took home Best Film at the Japan Academy Film Awards. The darkly comic character study Teki Cometh, meanwhile, won three of the top prizes at last year’s Tokyo International Film Festival, including Best Film.

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A Samurai In Time

Other acclaimed films and international festival favourites screening during the festival include Cloud, the new thriller from Kiyoshi Kurosawa; the profound All the Long Nights from director Sho Miyake (Small, Slow but Steady); and Living in Two Worlds, a sensitive and heartfelt portrait of a young man’s experiences growing up with Deaf parents.

Cloud

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Cottontail, meanwhile, brings together actor Lily Franky (Shoplifters) and Ireland’s own Ciarán Hinds for a moving drama about one Japanese widower’s trip to England to fulfil his late wife’s final wish. Those looking for a unique insight into Japanese society & culture should check out the documentary The Making of a Japanese, which follows a group of Tokyo elementary school students over the course of a year, and the charming comedy-drama Takano Tofu.

Cottontail

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Anime fans won’t want to miss this year’s selection of new anime films: Ghost Cat Anzu, Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window, City Hunter: Angel Dust and Kaiju No. 8: Mission Recon. We’re also excited to present two classic anime titles: Hayao Miyazaki’s beloved debut feature Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro, and the vibrant and playful Tekkonkinkreet.

Ghost Cat Anzu

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In Dublin, we’re also excited to present 1968’s The Snow Woman, based on a famous ghost story recounted by Dublin-raised Lafcadio Hearn in his classic Kwaidan collection. This screening will tie in with the 175th anniversary of Hearn’s birth, along with the ongoing exhibition celebrating his work which has been taking place nationally (currently in Dublin’s Farmleigh Gallery). The screening will be preceded by a short introduction introducing the audience to Hearn’s life and work.

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“This year marks the 16th year of the festival and our collaboration with the Embassy of Japan. JFF 25 will bring the latest Japanese films to audiences across Ireland, alongside a selection of classic titles. Whether you’re a JFF regular or have never been before, we look forward to welcoming you to this year’s screenings. As ever, the festival has an exciting range of titles to choose from. Whether you’re looking for the latest anime, festival favourites or an insight into Japanese culture & society, this year’s programme has something for everyone.” – Maeve Cooke, director of access>CINEMA

JFF 2025 Screening Schedule

Wexford | Wexford Arts Centre: April 1 and 8

Galway | Eye Cinema: April 9-12

Dublin | Light House Cinema: April 10-17

Cork | The GATE Screen @ Arc Cinema: April 11-17 and  Triskel Christchurch: April 21-23

Sligo | Sligo Film Society @ The Model Arts Centre: April 10

Wicklow | Mermaid Arts Centre Bray: April 14

Mayo | Ballina Arts Centre: April 15

Louth | An Táin Arts Centre, Dundalk: April 18

Waterford | Garter Lane Arts Centre: April 22, 25 and 26

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All The Long Nights

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Ticketing links and full listings are now available at www.jff.ie.

Ticket sales information for screenings are available from each participating venue.

The Embassy of Japan and access>CINEMA are the co-organisers of the Festival with the support by The Arts Council of Ireland.

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IJA Annual General Meeting 2025 | Review

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The 35th Annual General Meeting for the Ireland Japan Association took place on Tuesday, 25th March 2025. Meeting was held as a hybrid event with members attending in person and remotely via Zoom platform.

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Catherine Grennell-Whyte, Chairperson of the Ireland Japan Association (IJA), opened the meeting by expressing her heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of former IJA Chair Michael Darcy on his passing. She highlighted Michael’s pivotal role in the Association, acknowledging his dedication, passion, and leadership in strengthening ties between Ireland and Japan. His invaluable contributions helped shape the IJA into what it is today, and his unwavering commitment to the community will be remembered with deep respect and gratitude. While his presence will be greatly missed, his legacy will continue to inspire.

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Chairperson’s Report

Catherine Grennell-Whyte introduced attendees to the Chairperson’s Report for 2024, which outlined the Association’s key activities, achievements, and challenges over the past year.

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Over the past 12 months, the Ireland Japan Association has continued to expand its community, hosting 23 events across cultural, business, and networking sectors. These included language courses, business forums, and cultural workshops, reflecting the growing interest in Irish-Japanese relations. Membership has also seen growth, with six new corporate members and seven new individual members joining in 2024.

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The Chairperson expressed deep appreciation to the Council Members, volunteers, corporate partners, and sponsors for their dedication and support. Special thanks were extended to the Embassy of Japan in Ireland, former Ambassador Maruyama, and a warm welcome was given to Ambassador Shimada and his wife as he begins his tenure in Ireland.

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The Chairperson concluded by thanking IJA members for their continued support and engagement, emphasizing the Association’s commitment to strengthening ties between Ireland and Japan in the years ahead.

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Financial Statements 2024

Summary of the IJA Financial Statements for 2024 was presented with the AGM participants by Vice Chairperson Tsugumi Yamamoto, membership subscription fees were discussed and approved for 2025/2026 and the new IJA Council members were announced.

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Council Elections 2025

Catherine Grennell-Whyte informed that for the 2025 elections, the IJA received a sufficient number of nominations to meet the constitutional requirements for Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, allowing both positions to be filled without requiring a vote. For the Ordinary Council seats, 13 nominations were received – six corporate and seven individual members. The elections were conducted via the online voting platform ElectionBody from Tuesday, March 11, to Tuesday, March 18, 2024. The results were reviewed and certified by an independent assessor, IJA Auditor Stephen Power.

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The Chairperson extended sincere gratitude to all outgoing council members for their dedication, participation, and teamwork during their tenure. As per the IJA Constitution, members must step down after three years of service. The following council members were thanked for their contributions: Tsugumi Yamamoto, Vice-Chairperson, Hiro Ino, Individual Member, Jonathan Kelly, Individual Member.

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Catherine Grennell-Whyte, IJA Chairperson and Neil Cowhey, IJA Vice Chairperson

 

The newly elected IJA Council for 2025:

Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson

  1. Catherine Grennell-Whyte, ATTS/Finnair (Chairperson)
  2. Neil Cowhey, Dillon Eustace (Vice Chairperson)

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Corporate Members:

  1. Atsushi Kadota, ElectroRoute
  2. Darina Slattery, Oomi Travel
  3. David Tyrrell, NTT Data
  4. Graham Ryan, Yamamori
  5. Peter Vambeck, Fitzwilliam Capital
  6. Yuka Nagano, Clerkin Lynch

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Individual Members:

  1. Azumi Uchitani, IJA Individual Member
  2. Eddie Hughes, IJA Individual Member
  3. Maria Mardiki, IJA Individual Member
  4. Paula Kelly, IJA Individual Member
  5. Raymond Hegarty, IJA Individual Member
  6. Verity Swan, IJA Individual Member

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Not on Council but invited to attend meetings:

  1. Keiko Nakata, Embassy of Japan (Honorary Member)

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IJA Fireside Chat Series: A Conversation with Joan Mulvihill | Photo Gallery

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On Thursday, 27th February, we were delighted to host the second event in our exclusive IJA Fireside Chat Series, in collaboration with the Embassy of Finland in Ireland.
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A huge thank you to all participants for engaging in our insightful discussion on ‘Leadership and the Art of Digital Transformation: A Human Approach’ with our inspiring keynote speaker, Joan Mulvihill, Siemens Ireland.

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Joan’s thought-provoking talk explored the importance of rehumanising organisations in the digital age, seamlessly bridging the worlds of technology, creativity, and human-centric leadership.
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Special thanks to our hosts, H.E. Ms. Leena Gardemeister, Ambassador of Finland and the Embassy of Finland in Ireland, for their warm hospitality and support in making this event a success.
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We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming IJA events!
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This event was supported by the IJA 2025 Patron Members: Fitzwilliam Capital and Yamamori Dublin.
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In Memoriam | Remembering Michael Darcy

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The Ireland Japan Association is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Michael Darcy, a longstanding IJA member and former Chairperson.

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Michael Darcy was a passionate advocate for Ireland-Japan relations, dedicating himself to strengthening the ties between both nations. His contributions and commitment to the association will always be remembered, and he will be deeply missed.

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‘We are deeply saddened by the passing of Michael Darcy. As an active member of the Ireland Japan Association and Chairman for many years, he was a valued friend and supporter of the association. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this difficult time. May he rest in peace.” – Catherine Grennell-Whyte, IJA Chairperson.

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https://rip.ie/death-notice/michael-darcy-dublin-foxrock-586544

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Create Your 2025: Japanese Calligraphy Workshop | PHOTOS

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We are thankful to everyone who joined us for the ‘Create Your 2025: New Year Japanese Calligraphy Workshop’ with the wonderful artist, educator, and writer Azumi Uchitani. Hosted in collaboration with ElectroRoute, this unique event was an inspiring way to welcome the new year with creativity, mindfulness, and intention.

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This special workshop guided participants through the art of Japanese calligraphy, blending meditation and mindful practice to align body, mind, and spirit. Under Azumi’s expert instruction, we explored the theme of NAGARE (流) – FLOW, creating a Kanji symbol together to serve as an anchor for the year ahead.

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Through a beautifully structured session, participants:

  • Engaged in guided meditation to center themselves.
  • Practiced posture correction and warm-up exercises to master brush strokes with flow and precision.
  • Created their Kanji symbol and crafted their final piece on exquisite handcrafted cotton paper, making a lasting visual representation of their 2025 intentions.

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A heartfelt thank you to all participants for bringing their energy, enthusiasm, and creativity to this experience and we hope that your Kanji symbol serves as a meaningful reminder throughout the year.

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A special thank you to Azumi Uchitani for her wisdom, guidance, and signature method, making this workshop accessible and enriching for all. Her ability to blend tradition with personal expression left a lasting impression on everyone present.

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Finally, our thanks goes to ElectroRoute team for their incredible support in making this event a success and being fantastic hosts as always.

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We look forward to welcoming you to more events this year that encourage self-expression, growth, and connection.

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Read more about the workshop details on Azumi Uchitani’s website: https://www.azumiuchitani.com/create-2025-japanese-calligraphy-dublin/

Photos: Azumi Uchitani, Kevin O’Neill

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Yamamori celebrates 30th anniversary and joins IJA as a 2025 Patron Member

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The Ireland Japan Association is pleased to announce that our long-standing partner and member, Yamamori, one of Ireland’s most beloved family-owned Japanese restaurant groups, will join us as a Patron Member for 2025. We look forward to a continued successful partnership and collaboration across the business, cultural, and educational sectors.

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Founded in 1995 by the late Derek Ryan, Yamamori began as a single establishment and has since expanded into a trio of thriving restaurants and bars in Dublin city centre. Renowned for its commitment to authentic Japanese cuisine, outstanding cocktails, warm service, and vibrant atmosphere, Yamamori has become a cornerstone of Dublin’s culinary scene.

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The flagship location, Yamamori, located at 71/72 South Great George’s Street, established in 1995, remains a pioneer of Japanese cuisine in Dublin. Offering a wide range of dishes, including tempura, sushi, Japanese dumplings, and freshly prepared ramen, it has set the standard for Japanese dining in the city. In addition to its culinary excellence, Yamamori South has become known for its dedicated staff and inviting environment, ensuring a memorable dining experience for all guests.

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As the Yamamori Group celebrates its 30th anniversary in August 2025, it continues to be a beloved institution, serving the Dublin community and thriving as a cornerstone of Dublin’s dining scene for years to come.

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We are excited to further strengthen our partnership with Yamamori and look forward to a successful year ahead.

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To learn more about Yamamori businesses and the services they provide, please visit their website here or connect with them on LinkedIn.

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Fitzwilliam Capital joins IJA as a 2025 Patron Member

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The Ireland Japan Association is pleased to announce Fitzwilliam Capital, the investment division of Fitzwilliam Group, as our Patron Member for 2025. We look forward to a lasting partnership, fruitful collaboration, and mutual growth as we work together to strengthen the ties between Ireland and Japan.

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Founded in Ireland in 1975, Fitzwilliam Group is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Over the years, the Group has earned a distinguished reputation for delivering proactive and professional services to its clients, investors, and partners alike. Originally established as a construction company, Fitzwilliam Group has successfully expanded into three core divisions: Investment, Development & Property.

“Guided by our core values, we are dedicated to exceeding the expectations of our customers and stakeholders, attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), leaving a positive legacy in the communities we serve, protecting the environment for future generations, and fostering a safe and inclusive workplace for our team.” – Peter Vambeck, Director of Investment at Fitzwilliam Capital

To learn more about Fitzwilliam Capital and the services they provide, please visit their website here or their LinkedIn profile.

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IJA Bounenkai End of Year Party 2024 | PHOTO GALLERY

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The IJA Council would like to extend a heartfelt gratitude to everyone who attended the annual IJA Bounenkai End of Year Party on 28th November at Yamamori Izakaya Japas & Sake in Dublin. Your presence truly made the evening special, and we hope you enjoyed celebrating the culmination of this year’s hard work.

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Catherine Grennell-Whyte, IJA Chairperson, warmly welcomed event guests and initiated the festivities with a traditional Japanese Kanpai toast.

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We would like to express our deepest appreciation to H.E. Mr. Norio Maruyama, Ambassador of Japan to Ireland and IJA Patron, for honouring us with his presence and delivering a heartfelt farewell message as he concludes his service in Ireland and prepares to return to Japan.

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Our sincere thanks also go to the IJA event team and our exceptional hosts at Yamamori Izakaya Japas & Sake for their warm hospitality and for ensuring the event was a resounding success.

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Here’s to creating more wonderful memories together in the future!

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Photos: Eddie Hughes & Miyu Ishikawa

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