Fexco joins IJA as a Corporate member

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Ireland Japan Association (IJA) is delighted to welcome  financial and business solutions provider Fexco on board IJA as a Corporate member and is looking forward to a long lasting and successful cooperation.

Fexco is Ireland’s most successful multinational financial and business solutions provider, with operations in 29 countries worldwide.

Founded and headquartered in Ireland in 1981, Fexco employs more than 2,300 people across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, North America, Latin America and Australasia.

For thirty six years, Fexco has been driven by an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit. This ethos has brought the company to new regions and industries of growth, connecting customers with exciting new opportunities. Through its strategic commitment to innovation, project delivery and customer service, Fexco has built a global network of partners and customers and is an internationally admired and respected organisation.

Fexco enables customers, companies and economies to unlock their potential in financial transaction services and business solutions and is pursuing an ambitious domestic and international growth strategy.

Fexco serves some of the world’s biggest brands across multiple industries through a wide range of innovative products and services, including Dynamic Currency Conversion, Bank to Bank Transfers, Retail FX, Managed Business Solutions and Tax Free Retail Services.

If you wish to learn more about Fexco and services they provide, please visit their website: https://fexco.com

Business and Economic Briefing | 29 May 2019

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Hosted by SMBC Bank EU AG at their Dublin office, and in partnership with  JETRO London and Ireland Japan Association, the Business and Economic Briefing took place on Wednesday, 29th May 2019.

The briefing was designed to provide attendees with latest insights into Japan-EU relationship, current economic situation and business opportunities.

Presentation ‘Japan-EU Relationship, Economic Outlook & Business Opportunities’  was given by Takumi Fujino, Director General, JETRO London. In his presentation he reviewed Japan-EU EPA and its advantages, improvements to the market between EU and Japan as well as investment and development opportunities.

With a better environment for investment in EU as a result of the Japan-EU EPA, more and more Japanese companies are planning to expand business cooperation in the EU.

Satoshi Okagawa, SMBC Senior Global Markets Analyst, and Sujin Lim, Vice President, SMBC Bank EU AG, Treasury Department introduced attendees to presentation ‘European Crisis Again?’ providing great insight into current situation of the global economy, financial market trends and development.

Briefing was followed by informal networking and refreshments.

We would like to thank all guest speakers, attendees of the briefing and SMBC Bank EU AG for their support and hosting this event in Dublin.

Photos: SMBC Bank EU AG

ILFDublin Writer In Residence Tomoka Shibasaki with Polly Barton

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Ireland’s premier literary event – International Literature Festival Dublin (ILFDublin) – is taking place from 17th – 26th May, gathering the finest writers in the world to debate, provoke, delight and enthral.

This year’s festival has an amazing line-up with the very best of Irish and international talent for you to meet at the readings, discussions, debates, workshops, performances and screenings across various venues.

Among other amazing events, we would like to highlight event and discussion with Tomoka Shibasaki  – Japanese writer in residence at ILFDublin 2019. From Osaka, Tomoka Shibasaki has won the Noma Literary New Face Prize and the Akutagawa Prize for ‘Spring Garden’, her first novel translated into English, which tells the story of Taro, a reclusive divorcee who is drawn into a strange relationship with the woman upstairs. The New York Times Book Review described ‘Spring Garden’ as, ‘Like a good meditation: quiet, surprising and deeply satisfying.’ Two of her works have been adapted for film.

Date: Thursday, 23 May 2019
Time: 6.15 p.m.
Venue: Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin
Tickets: €8 – €10, available online here: https://ilfdublin.ticketsolve.com/shows/873602946

Tomoka Shibasaki will be in conversation with her translator, Polly Barton, recently shortlisted for the Fitzcarraldo Editions essay  prize for ‘Fifty Sounds’, a record of linguistic and cultural assimilation in Japan, where she lived for seven years and became a literary translator. She was the recipient of the 2016 Kyoko Selden International Translation Prize.

Together they discuss their work and map out the territory of contemporary Japanese literature. Chaired by Martin Colthorpe, Programme Director, ILFDublin.

Presented with the support of the EU Japan Fest Japan Committee.

Full list of ILFDublin 2019 events are available here!

 

Plan your trip to Tokyo with Finnair now | Campaign Fares

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Finnair is launching its campaign fares from Dublin to Tokyo (via Helsinki) next week, so plan your trip to Japan and don’t miss your opportunity to get your flight tickets right now!

Tickets for selected travel times will go on sale next Thursday, 2nd May, and will start from €579 for Economy Class and €2,099 for Business Class.

Tokyo (東京, Tōkyō) is Japan’s capital and the world’s most populous metropolis. Today, Tokyo offers a seemingly unlimited choice of shopping, entertainment, culture and dining to its visitors. The city’s history can be appreciated in districts such as Asakusa and in many excellent museums, historic temples and gardens. Contrary to common perception, Tokyo also offers a number of attractive green spaces in the city center and within relatively short train rides at its outskirts.*

Log on to www.finnair.ie or contact your Local Travel Agent for booking or more information
about the fare rules. Campaign fare includes all taxes and surcharges.

Welcome aboard Finnair!

 

*Information from: Japan-guide.com

The Killester Travel group joins IJA as a Corporate member

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Ireland Japan Association (IJA) is delighted to welcome The Killester Travel group on board IJA as a Corporate member and is looking forward to a long lasting and successful cooperation.

The Killester Travel group have been at the forefront of Business, Sport and Leisure Travel for more than three decades. Since it was established in 1977 the company has grown to become one of Ireland’s leading Travel and Sports event companies.

The Killester Travel group consists of Theflyinggolfer.com , Munster Sports Travel, Leinster Sports Travel, Ulster Sports Travel, Kerry Sports Travel.

As official carrier to both the Ulster and Munster rugby teams we are in a position to provide a full range of supporter and corporate rugby packages to all Heineken Cup and Rabo Direct league games.

We also have an official allocation of tickets for Croke Park, Thomond Park, RDS and the new Aviva Stadium, Lansdowne Road and offer a range of quality corporate hospitality and supporter packages for both home and away games in the 6 Nations Championship, Autumn Internationals and World cup tournaments.

Theflyinggolfer.com golfing holidays section boasts a thirty-five year track record for quality driven corporate and leisure golf tours and travel on every continent and continue to search out and develop new destinations and innovative golf tours.

The Killester Travel also have a full selection of Sun, Ski and Cruise holidays for individuals, groups and families.

If you wish to learn more about The Killester Travel group and services they provide, please visit their website: https://www.killestertravel.com

Read the Tokyo Journal for FREE | Exclusive to the IJA Members only

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We are delighted to let you know that we have secured an exclusive opportunity for the IJA members to have full access to the digital version of the Tokyo Journal, one of the oldest English magazines from Japan sold across bookstores in Japan and internationally.

If you are a Corporate or Individual member of the IJA and would like to get free access to the quarterly issue of the Tokyo Journal, please contact us by email: info@ija.ie and we will send you log-in details to access the newest issue online.

The magazine was established in 1981 and since the early ’80s, it has been distributed in major bookstores throughout Japan as well as internationally. For over three decades, the Tokyo Journal has provided a glimpse into Japanese culture, all sectors of life and styles, entertainment, and events, often through the eyes of those who have travelled and lived there.

In 2017, Tokyo Journal received the Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Travel and Tourism’s Japan Travel Agency Commissioner’s Award.

 

 

Experience Japan 10th Anniversary Concert | Dublin/Galway

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To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Experience Japan Festival, two very special music concerts of Japanese music will take place at the beginning of April in Dublin and Galway.

You will have the opportunity to enjoy performance of four champion Japanese performers including Hiro Hayashida (former Kodo member and global award-winning Taiko Master), Miyu Kobayashi (Shinobue & Taiko), Luke Hayashida (Taiko) and for this special event, Hibiki Sawada on Shamisen.

Concert dates:

Seats are limited so make sure you book your tickets soon!

All performers will also join Experience Japan festival in Farmleigh on Sunday, 7th April for a fusion of Irish and Japanese music with leading Irish musicians and Experience Japan  Taiko Team.

More information about Experience Japan festival can be found HERE!

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Robots in Education, Healthcare and Welfare. Recent Trends in Japan. | Seminar

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Experience Japan and UCD Japan are inviting you to a seminar ‘Robots in Education, Healthcare and Welfare. Recent Trends in Japan.’ presented by Prof. Nobuhiro Sakata (Dokkyo Medical University, Japan).

Event will take place on Friday, 5th April at 1.30 p.m. at Bank of Ireland, Montrose Branch, Dublin.

For more details, please click HERE!

The Yamato Dynasty & the Imperial Succession in Japan | Seminar

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Japan’s 85-year-old monarch, Emperor Akihito, who will abdicate at the end of April 2019 has became a symbol of peace and reconciliation in Japan. He will step down on 30th April, to be succeeded the next day by Crown Prince Naruhito.

To mark this occasion, the Embassy of Japan, Experience Japan and UCD Japan are organizing a seminar ‘The Yamato Dynasty & the Imperial Succession in Japan’ presented by Dr Declan Downey (RAH, UCD School of History) which will be followed by a screening of ‘His Majesty the Emperor: 30 Years Since His Majesty’s Accession’.

Event will take place on Sunday, 31st March at 1.30 p.m. at the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2. This event is free for everyone and no advance registration is required.

For more information, please click HERE!

Event is organized by the Embassy of Japan, Experience Japan and UCD Japan.

IJA Annual General Meeting 2019 | Review

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The 29th Annual General Meeting for the Ireland Japan Association took place on Wednesday, 20th March 2019 the AIB Bankcentre, Dublin.

During her speech, Darina Slattery, IJA Chairperson, thanked the outgoing Council members for their work, participation and team effort throughout the past year, Embassy of Japan for continuous support to the IJA, and everyone who attended the AGM.

Darina Slattery noted that 2018 was a very busy year for the IJA – 20 business and culture events were organized throughout the past year (16 events in 2018 and 4 events in 2019), including Origami and Ikebana workshops, four Japanese language courses, Mrs. Ushioda’s book launch celebration, Social night and Student membership launch, Business briefings in cooperation with the IJA Corporate members, trips to Japanese gardens in Tramore and Christmas experience in Causey farm, IJA Annual Dinner, Annual Golf Outing, Bilingual language seminar, Japanese Noh ‘Between the Stones’ workshops and Bounenkai celebration at the end of the year.

IJA also supported five organizations with donations in 2018: Dublin School for Japanese Children (DSJC), Experience Japan festival in Dublin, Japanese Film Festival, 16th Japanese Speech Contest and Pieta House.

Darina Slattery informed that IJA member’s network has 35 corporate members and 44 individual members. Two new corporate members have recently joined the IJA – Grant Thornton Ireland and First Names Group. Darina Slattery thanked AIB for continuous support and decision to remain as a Patron member for 2019.

Summary of IJA Financial Statements for 2018 was given to the AGM attendees, membership subscription fees were approved for 2019/2020 and the new IJA Council members were announced.

Darina Slattery thanked Karl O’Reilly (KWE Ireland) and Brian Marconi (JTI Ireland) for their work at the IJA Council in the past years. Both have stepped down at the AGM after three years of service at the IJA Council. Darina Slattery welcomed two new Council members – Verity Swan who will represent IJA Individual members and Tsugumi Yamamoto (Grant Thornton Ireland) who will represent Corporate members at the IJA Council in 2019.

The newly elected IJA Council for 2019:

  1. Darina Slattery, Unique Japan Tours (Chairperson)
  2. Yasuyuki Ozeki, JETRO (Vice-Chairperson)
  3. Donagh Morris, Individual Member
  4. Hiro Ino, Individual Member
  5. Paula Kelly, Individual Member
  6. Raymond Hegarty, Individual Member
  7. Verity Swan, Individual Member
  8. Eoghan Howe, BOI Corporate Banking
  9. Graham Ryan, Yamamori
  10. Neil Maher, Mitsubishi Electric
  11. Niall Moriarty, AIB Corporate Banking
  12. Shane Geraghty, Dillon Eustace
  13. Tsugumi Yamamoto, Grant Thornton Ireland