Tag Archive for: Corporate membership

Academic Bridge Ltd joins the IJA as a Corporate member

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Ireland Japan Association is delighted to welcome Academic Bridge Ltd, Dublin-based English school, on board the IJA as a Corporate member, and is looking forward to a long lasting and successful cooperation.

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Founded in 2010, the school first opened its doors in September 2012, welcoming students from various parts of the world, including Japan, and offering a high-quality English language courses for non-native speakers as well as Cambridge and IELTS preparation courses.

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Academic Bridge was founded with the mission to provide a unique educational experience for international students who wish to learn English in Dublin. Our commitment goes beyond just teaching the language; we aim to offer a full cultural immersion, helping our students explore new cultures and broaden their horizons. – Roberto Kobashigawa, Academic Bridge Ltd.

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The school is dedicated to providing the best English learning experience by using a unique methodology allowing students to make significant progress during their study time. In 2015, to accommodate its rapid growth, the school relocated to a more spacious building in one of Dublin’s historic areas near O’Connell Street. Academic Bridge Ltd. was among the first schools in Ireland to implement and offer the Learner’s Protection Policy to its students.

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Continuously evolving, the school actively participates in international student fairs and expands its networking. In 2016, it became part of the official ILEP list, which consists of government-approved education programs meeting specific standards and requirements, provided by universities, colleges, and English language schools. In 2024, the school joined the Ireland Japan Association’s network of corporate members.

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We are incredibly happy to have this opportunity to be part of the IJA. Being a member of this association is a significant step for us, as we are always exploring and incorporating new cultures into our English exchange program. We believe this partnership will be mutually beneficial and open up many opportunities for our students. – Roberto Kobashigawa, Academic Bridge Ltd.

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For more information about Academic Bridge Ltd, please visit website: https://academicbridge.ie. You can also follow their updates on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

 

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IJA Annual Dinner 2024: Celebrating the Irish-Japanese Community

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Ireland Japan Association’s Annual Dinner 2024, a significant event for the Irish-Japanese community, was held on May 17th at the Conrad Dublin hotel. Esteemed members of the Ireland Japan Association and distinguished guests, including key figures from government, business, academia, and the arts, gathered to celebrate the strong ties between Ireland and Japan.
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The evening began with a Sake & Prosecco reception, creating an atmosphere of elegance and camaraderie. Master of Ceremonies Raymond Hegarty warmly welcomed attendees. Guests then enjoyed a sumptuous three-course meal in the beautiful Ballroom, followed by a Prize Giving ceremony.
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IJA Council Members with special guests: H.E. Mr. Norio Maruyama, Ambassador of Japan in Ireland, H.E. Ms. Leena Gardemeister, Ambassador of Finland to Ireland, and Mr. Jack Chambers, State Minister for the Department of Transport and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.

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H.E. Mr. Norio Maruyama, Ambassador of Japan in Ireland and IJA Patron, honoured the event with his presence and delivered an inspiring address.
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Special guest Mr. Jack Chambers, State Minister for the Department of Transport and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, gave a memorable speech, sharing insights from his recent visit to Japan.

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H.E. Mr. Norio Maruyama, Ambassador of Japan in Ireland.

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Mr. Jack Chambers, State Minister for the Department of Transport and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.

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IJA Chairperson Catherine Grennell-Whyte highlighted the association’s mission and recent achievements. She noted the rapid growth and expansion of the association, marked by a variety of events and activities throughout the year and an increasing number of individual and corporate members.
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“We are committed to fostering education, cultural exchange, and business opportunities between Ireland and Japan,” said Catherine Grennell-Whyte. “Our goal is to build a vibrant community offering real benefits and opportunities through close collaborations, cultural appreciation, innovative business discussions, and invaluable networking.”
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Catherine Grennell-Whyte, IJA Chairperson

 
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The IJA Annual Dinner 2024 was a memorable night, celebrating the enduring bond between Ireland and Japan.
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IJA Annual Dinner 2024 Prosecco & Sake Reception at The Conrad, Dublin.

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The IJA Council expresses its gratitude to the Dublin School for Japanese Children for crafting and presenting exquisite Japanese origami decorations to our dinner guests. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the event team at Conrad Dublin for their exceptional hospitality and service during our event. We also want to extend our thanks to Raymond Hegarty, Master of Ceremonies, and our dedicated event team for their invaluable time, support, and contributions in making this year’s event a resounding success.

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The IJA Council extends gratitude to the prize sponsors for their ongoing support and generous contributions: Dillon Eustace, Finnair, Japan Rugby and Football Union, KWE Ireland, Oomi Travel, Mitsubishi Electric, NTT Data, PwC Ireland, and SuMi TRUST.
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Photo Gallery | IJA Annual Dinner 2024

Photos: Stephen Cullen, K9 Studio

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(If you were a guest at the IJA Annual Dinner 2024 and would like to receive an access to full photo gallery from the night, please email your request to: info@ija.ie)

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Google Ireland joins the IJA as a Corporate member

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Ireland Japan Association is delighted to welcome Google Ireland, one of the world’s leading multinational corporations and technology companies specialising in internet-related services and products, on board the IJA as a Corporate member, and is looking forward to a long lasting and successful cooperation.

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‘I’m delighted to become a member of the Ireland Japan Association and excited about the potential for collaboration.’ – Teresa Weafer, Government Affairs & Public Policy Community Affairs Manager

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Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. That’s why Search makes it easy to discover a broad range of information from a wide variety of sources.

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Google Ireland is Google’s Europe, Middle East and Africa Headquarters. Google established its first office in Ireland in 2003 with just five employees and has now grown to a workforce of over 9000 people from over 100 countries.

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Google Ireland serves as a hub for dozens of functions and teams supporting Google’s global operations.

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ALPS Electric Ireland Ltd. join the IJA as a Corporate member

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Ireland Japan Association is delighted to welcome ALPS Electric Ireland Ltd., a leading global manufacturer of electronic devices, on board the IJA as a Corporate member, and we are looking forward to a long lasting and successful cooperation.

ALPS Electric (Ireland) Ltd. is a subsidiary of The Alps Alpine Group, delivering products and services of an excellent standard to customers worldwide.
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Alps Alpine prides itself in “perfecting the art of electronics” through its electronic components, and mobile media solutions, head a global network of over 190 group companies.

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ALPS Electric (Ireland) Ltd. was founded in Millstreet Town, County Cork in 1988. Manufacturing is dedicated to Automotive Customers, IoT Technology and White Goods. Our main markets are in Europe under the corporate Made-In-Market philosophy.’’ – John Foley, Managing Director, ALPS Electric (Ireland) Ltd.

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Today ALPS Electric (Ireland) Ltd. employs over 400 people in Millstreet Town. The Facility has 56,000 square feet of world class manufacturing space which houses SMT, Moulding, Decorative Parts Painting and Laser Marking capabilities and various Final Assembly processes. Production processes are highly automated by ALPS Electric (Ireland) Ltd. own engineers.
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ALPS Electric (Ireland) Ltd. is certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and IATF 16949 and holds quality awards from Jaguar Landrover and Volvo.

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If you wish to learn more about ALPS Electric and services they provide, please visit their website or visit ALPS Electric profile on LinkedIn  and YouTube!

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IJA Annual Dinner 2023 | Photo Gallery

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On 12th May the IJA members, friends, and supporters celebrated and enjoyed one of our biggest events of the year – the IJA Annual Dinner 2023. This year’s event took place at one of the most beautiful and luxurious Dublin venues – Conrad Dublin Hotel.

 

 

The IJA Council was delighted to welcome H.E. Mr. Norio Maruyama, Ambassador of Japan in Ireland and the IJA Patron, as well as Mr. Jack Chambers, State Minister for the Department of Transport and the Department of the Environment, Climate & Communications, as special guests and speakers at the event.

 

From left: Ms. Tsugumi Yamamoto, IJA Vice Chairperson, H.E. Mr. Norio Maruyama, Ambassador of Japan in Ireland and the IJA Patron, Ms. Catherine Grennell-Whyte, IJA Chairperson, Mr. Jack Chambers, State Minister for the Department of Transport and the Department of the Environment, Climate & Communications, and Mr. Raymond Hegarty, IJA Ex-Officio and Master of Ceremonies. Photo: Stephen Cullen, K9 Studio

 

The evening began with Sake reception, kindly supported by the IJA Council in cooperation with Retro Vino Wine & Sake. Reception was followed by welcome words from Raymond Hegarty, IJA Ex-Officio and Master of Ceremonies, and after that dinner guests enjoyed a delicious 3-course meal in the beautiful Ball Room.

 

Raymond Hegarty, IJA Ex-Officio and Master of Ceremonies. Photo: Stephen Cullen, K9 Studio

 

Catherine Grennell-Whyte, IJA Chairperson, expressed her gratitude to the IJA corporate and individual members present at the event, inviting everyone to enjoy ‘the celebration of cultures and our successes, a celebration of friendships forged through the Ireland Japan Association and of our achievements together’.

 

No association can function effectively without a strong membership who are committed to the ongoing activities, and we believe the members of this association are one of the main reasons we are so successful.  We can see the evidence of this here this evening with such a large attendance.  I would like to reiterate how much we value your individual, family, student and corporate membership participation in the many events we host and support throughout the year. – Catherine Grennell-Whyte, IJA Chairperson.

 

Catherine Grennell-Whyte, IJA Chairperson. Photo: Stephen Cullen, K9 Studio

 

Catherine Grennell-Whyte thanked the IJA Patron member – ElectroRoute – for their support to the association and a very successful cooperation. Special gratitude was expressed to the IJA Patron H.E. Mr. Norio Maruyama, Ambassador of Japan in Ireland. ‘Your patronage of the association is most gratefully appreciated and so is the support of the entire team at the Embassy,’ said Catherine Grennell-Whyte.

 

Ms. Catherine Grennell-Whyte, IJA Chairperson and H.E. Mr. Norio Maruyama, Ambassador of Japan in Ireland and the IJA Patron. Photo: Stephen Cullen, K9 Studio

 

Prize Giving this year was sponsored by the IJA Corporate members – ElectroRoute, Dillon Eustace, Oomi Travel (former Unique Japan Tours), PwC Ireland, SuMi TRUST and Yamamori,  and we would like to thank everyone for their continued support and very generous prizes. The Grand Prize this year was sponsored by our Corporate member Finnair, and we would like to congratulate the lucky winner who received a return flight to Japan – Mr. Yiannis Gkoufas.

We would also like to thank everyone at the Dublin School for Japanese Children who created and gifted beautiful Japanese origami decorations to our dinner guests, and to Mrs. Tomoko Ozaki who created stunning Ikebana flower arrangements for the event. Huge thanks to the event team at Conrad Dublin for being great hosts and providing excellent service during our event.

We would like to thank Raymond Hegarty, Master of Ceremonies, and our event team and volunteers from the IJA Council – Catherine Grennell-Whyte, Tsugumi Yamamoto, Darina Slattery, Laura Goonan, Azumi Uchitani, Eva Reavley and Verity Swan – for their time, support and help to make this year’s event such a great success. Special thanks to Eddie Hughes, former IJA Council member, for his dedication and help with the event arrangements.

 

Photo Gallery | IJA Annual Dinner 2023

Photos: Stephen Cullen, K9 Studio

(If you were a guest at the IJA Annual Dinner 2023 and would like to receive an access to full photo gallery from the night, please email your request to: info@ija.ie)

 

 

Tazaki Foods joins the IJA as a Corporate member

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Ireland Japan Association is delighted to welcome Tazaki Foods, the leading importer, developer and distributor of speciality Japanese food and beverage products in Europe, on board the IJA as a Corporate member, and is looking forward to a long lasting and successful cooperation.

 

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Tazaki Foods was founded in 1978 for the purpose of importing Japanese food and beverage products into the UK. The company has since grown to become the leading importer and wholesaler of speciality Japanese food and beverage products in Europe – supplying not only the Japanese restaurant and food service sectors, but also major supermarket chains throughout Europe.
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Working in close partnership with a global network of suppliers, Tazaki Foods sources high quality, Japanese products that meet the evolving needs of the food service and retail industries. Harnessing its extensive knowledge and experience in the sector, the company also launched its own “Yutaka” range of Japanese food products in 1995. This ever-expanding range today includes ingredients for sushi, sauces, soups, rice, noodles, as well as easy-to-use meal kits. Yutaka continues to be the leading Japanese ingredient brand in many countries across Europe.
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Tazaki Foods has been supplying Japanese food products to the Irish market for close to two decades, fostering close relationships with both restaurant and wholesale customers over this time. Since 2021, the company has operated from a partner warehouse located close to Dublin, which has enabled it to provide a more convenient and efficient service to customers throughout the country.
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Tazaki Foods sees great potential in the Irish market, particularly in the aftermath of Brexit, and will be focusing greater resources here going forward to drive further expansion, both domestically and across the EU.
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We are delighted to support the Ireland Japan Association and the important work it does in cultivating ties between the two countries. We very much look forward to meeting other members over the coming weeks and months.
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If you wish to learn more about Tazaki Foods and services they provide, please visit their websites: https://www.tazakifoods.com/ and https://yutaka.london/ or visit their social media –  LinkedIn or Twitter!
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K&L Gates Ireland LLP joins the IJA as a Corporate member

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Ireland Japan Association is delighted to welcome K&L Gates Ireland LLP, global law firm across five continents, on board the IJA as a Corporate member and is looking forward to a long lasting and successful cooperation.

 

At K&L Gates, we foster an inclusive and collaborative environment across our fully integrated global platform that enables us to diligently combine the knowledge and expertise of our lawyers and policy professionals to create teams that provide exceptional client solutions. We marry action with vision, success with dedication, method with passion, and innovation with creativity.
Our firm is recognized consistently for providing clients with the most sophisticated solutions to legal challenges around the world.
If you wish to learn more about K&L Gates Ireland LLP and services they provide, please visit their website: https://www.klgates.com/Dublin or visit K&L Gates LLP profile on LinkedIn and Twitter!

IJA welcomes its new 2023 Patron Member – ElectroRoute

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Ireland Japan Association is delighted to welcome ElectroRoute, an international, renewables-focused, energy trading and services company, on board the IJA as our new 2023 Patron Member, and we are looking forward to a long lasting and successful cooperation.

 The company, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation, has grown rapidly from its establishment in 2011 to now employing over 90 professionals based in Ireland, the UK, Europe, and Japan.

The company’s vision is to make net zero a reality by solving the commercial mechanics of a decarbonised energy system. ElectroRoute intelligently leverages the benefits of new technologies, our advanced methodologies, and the application of unrivalled expertise to develop innovative energy trading and renewable risk management solutions.

Its team of traders trade and optimise a range of renewable assets on a 24/7 basis using its unique, tech-driven, AI-powered platform, ElectroRoute CORE.

If you wish to learn more about ElectroRoute and services they provide, please visit their website: https://electroroute.com/ or visit ElectroRoute profile on LinkedIn and Twitter!

Openskies Aerial Technology Ltd. joins the IJA as a Corporate member

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Ireland Japan Association (IJA) is delighted to welcome Openskies Aerial Technology Ltd. on board the IJA as a Corporate member and is looking forward to a long lasting and successful cooperation.

Openskies Aerial Technology Ltd. builds open source tools, services and specifications to support the existing and future aerial robotics ecosystem, and provides technical expertise, software development capability and project management services to the future aviation systems.

Openskies Aerial Technology Ltd. professionally supports and has founded leading products and opensource communities in the context of UTM and unmanned aviation: Flight Blender (https://flightblender.com) and Flight Spotlight (https://flightspotlight.com) provide open source standards compliant UTM implementations. Aerobridge (https://aerobridge.io) focuses on drone assembly, manufacturing and flight security with software and hardware for trusted flights. – Hrishikesh Ballal, Co-Founder and CEO

 

If you wish to learn more about Openskies Aerial Technology Ltd. and services they provide, please visit their website: https://about.openskies.sh/or visit their profile on LinkedIn.

IJA Annual Dinner 2022 | Photo Gallery

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On 17th June the IJA members, friends, and supporters came together to celebrate and enjoy one of our biggest events of the year – the IJA Annual Dinner 2022. This year it took place at one of the most beautiful Dublin venues – Radisson Blu St. Helen’s Hotel.

 

The evening began with Sake reception, kindly supported by our corporate member – Retro Vino Wine & Sake. Reception was followed by welcome words from Catherine Grennell-Whyte, Master of Ceremonies, and after that guests enjoyed a delicious 3-course meal in the beautiful Le Panto Suite.

 

Catherine Grennell-Whyte, Finnair/ATTS, Master of Ceremonies

 

Speeches were given by Raymond Hegarty, IJA Chairperson and Mr. Makoto Honda, Counsellor, DHM, Embassy of Japan.

 

 

Prize Giving this year was sponsored by the IJA Corporate members – Bank of Ireland, Cpl Resources, Dillon Eustace, KWE Ireland, Retro Vino, Unique Japan Tours and Yamamori. The Grand Prize this year was sponsored by Finnair, IJA 2022 Travel Partner, and we would like to congratulate the lucky winner who received 2 return flights to Japan.

 

Grand prize winner received 2 tickets to Japan from Finnair/ATTS.

 

It was great to see everyone back together after so long. We are happy for you attending the event and look forward to seeing you again in coming events. – Tsugumi Yamamoto, IJA Vice Chairperson

 

We would like to thank all our members and friends who attended the IJA Annual Dinner this year, and special thanks go to our 2022 Travel Partner – Finnair, and all our Corporate members for their continued support and very generous prizes.

We would also like to thank Dublin School for Japanese Children who made beautiful origami decorations for our dinner guests, and to Mrs. Tomoko Ozaki who created Ikebana flower arrangements for the event. Huge thanks to the event team at the Radisson Blu St. Helen’s Hotel for being great hosts and providing excellent service during our event.

We would like to thank Catherine Grennell- Whyte, Master of Ceremonies, and our event team and volunteers from the IJA Council – Raymond Hegarty, Tsugumi Yamamoto, Darina Slattery, Laura Goonan, Jonathan Kelly, Hiro Ino and Eddie Hughes – for their time, support and help to make this year’s event such a great success.

More photos from the IJA Annual Dinner 2022 are in the photo gallery below. Please click on the image to enlarge it.

 

Photos: Kevin O’Neill, Laura Goonan, Darina Slattery, Eddie Hughes, Raymond Hegarty and Jonathan Kelly