Tag Archive for: IJA Council

IJA Annual General Meeting 2023 | Review

The 33rd Annual General Meeting for the Ireland Japan Association took place on Thursday, 23rd March 2023. Meeting was held as a hybrid event with members attending in person and remotely via Zoom platform.

 

 

Raymond Hegarty, IJA Chairperson, thanked the outgoing Council members for their work, participation and team effort throughout the past year, Embassy of Japan for their continued support to the IJA, and all IJA Corporate and Individual members who have supported association and its activities in 2022.

Raymond Hegarty warmly welcomed H. E. Mr. Norio Maruyama, the new Ambassador of Japan in Ireland, wishing him and his team a very successful time in Ireland during his service.

In his report, Raymond Hegarty noted that 10 business and culture events were organized online and in person throughout the past year, including IJA Japanese Conversation Group, Ikebana Demonstration Online, Japanese Language and Culture Course, AGM 2022, IJA Annual Dinner, Summer Ikebana Workshop, IJA Golf Outing 2022, Autumn Ikebana Workshop, Ichigo Ichie Dinner Event, and Bounenkai celebrations. Raymond Hegarty thanked all Council members who have dedicated their time and effort to organise these events.

In 2022 IJA supported and promoted a long list of various events organized by the IJA partner organisations, members and friends UCD Japan, Experience Japan, Unique Japan Tours, the Ireland Japan Chamber of Commerce, Japanese Film Festival, East Asia Film Festival, Chester Beatty, EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation, Raku Theatre Group, Japan Hockey team games in Dublin, and many more.

The IJA supported Experience Japan festival and Japanese School of Ireland with donations in 2022.

Raymond Hegarty informed that IJA member’s network had 33 corporate members and 58 individual members in 2022. The IJA is delighted to welcome our new corporate members who joined the IJA in 2022 and early 2023: IJA Patron member – ElectroRoute, and corporate members – Openskies Aerial Technology Ltd. and K&L Gates Ireland.

An update on the Dr. and Mrs. Ushioda Scholarship was given during the meeting. Raymond Hegarty informed that in 2022 Ushioda Scholarship was presented to 2 students:

  • Francis Donnelly (2021 winner), studying for BA in Applied Languages, University of Limerick. Francis is currently studying Japanese studies at Nagoya University of Foreign Studies. Due to the pandemic, her departure was postponed in 2021;
  • Joseph Peter Talento (2022 winner), studying Business Studies International at DCU. Joseph has travelled to Japan for an exchange year at Toyo University. 

Raymond Hegarty thanked Paula Kelly for her support and assistance with the scholarship management and administration process over the last year.

Summary of the IJA Financial Statements for 2022 was shared with the AGM participants, membership subscription fees were discussed and approved for 2023/2024 and the new IJA Council members were announced.

Raymond Hegarty thanked Eddie Hughes for his valuable advice, work and participation during his time on the Council. E. Hughes stepped down after 3 year servie on the Council. Raymond Hegarty, who is stepping down after serving 3 years as the IJA Chairperson, will continue his work on the Council as Ex-Officio. 

This year the IJA received enough nominations to satisfy the constitutional requirements for Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Ordinary Council members, and all places were filled without requiring a vote.  Raymond Hegarty congratulated Catherine Grennell-Whyte and wished her success in the new role.

Three new Council members were welcomed to the IJA Council this year – Azumi Uchitani, ElectroRoute, Eva Reavley, IJA Individual member and Verity Swan, IJA Individual member who all will join the Council as Ordinary members. All new Council members made short introductions.

The newly elected IJA Council for 2022:

Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson

  1. Catherine Grennell-Whyte, ATTS/Finnair (Chairperson)
  2. Tsugumi Yamamoto, IJA Individual Member (Vice Chairperson)

Ex-Officio

  1. Raymond Hegarty, IJA Individual Member

Corporate Members:

  1. Azumi Uchitani, ElectroRoute
  2. Brian Marconi, JTI
  3. Darina Slattery, Unique Japan Tours
  4. Laura Goonan, Dillon Eustace
  5. Pamela Connell, Bank of Ireland Corporate Banking
  6. Stephen Mullin, CPL Ireland
  7. Yasuyuki Ozeki, JETRO

Individual Members:

  1. Eva Reavley, IJA Individual Member
  2. Hiro Ino, IJA Individual Member
  3. Jonathan Kelly, IJA Individual Member
  4. Paula Kelly, IJA Individual Member
  5. Verity Swan, IJA Individual Member

Not on Council but invited to attend meetings:

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

 

IJA AGM 2023

The 33rd Annual General Meeting for the Ireland Japan Association will take place on Thursday, 23rd March 2023 at 2.30 p.m.

Date: Thursday, 23rd March 2023
Time: 2.30 p.m.
In person: Dillon Eustace, 33 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2
Online: An option to join remotely via Zoom will be available. Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants closer to the event date.

 

 

This event is open to ALL IJA MEMBERS, and we encourage you to attend.
Please note that you need to be a fully paid-up member to vote and attend the AGM.

Please find the IJA AGM 2023 Agenda here!

Please RSVP by Thursday, 16th March 2023 by email: info@ija.ie if you would like to attend the AGM. Please add a note if you will be attending in person or wish to join the meeting remotely via Zoom.


IJA GENERAL MEETING 2023

The IJA has received a proposal to amend the Paragraph 9 (Accounts) of the IJA Constitution regarding the wording and terms used in it. Proposed amendment:

‘The accounting year end shall be 31 December. The audit exempt accounts (Financial Statements) of the Association shall be prepared annually in accordance with relevant financial reporting framework in Ireland by an external accountancy firm, who is not a member of the Association and shall be submitted to the Members for approval at the General Meeting.  In any given year, audited accounts can be prepared instead of the audit exempt accounts (Financial Statements), provided the decision to do this is made by a majority approval of the Council.  The Association shall not be responsible for expenditure incurred in its name by unauthorised persons.’

As per Paragraph 13 of the IJA Constitution, A General Meeting of the Association, other than an Annual General Meeting, may be convened by giving to the members fourteen days notice of such meeting and specifying the purpose, time and venue during which a resolution will be put to the vote.

The IJA proposes that the IJA General Meeting takes place on Thursday, 23rd March 2023 at 2.30 p.m. – before the start of the IJA AGM 2023. The AGM will start immediately after the General Meeting concludes.


COUNCIL NOMINATIONS

UPDATE |  23.02.2023 – Thank you for sending your nominations for the IJA Council elections. Submissions of nominations for the IJA Council elections are closed now.

Under the Constitution, we are required to have 3 Individual Council Members and 6 Corporate Member representatives. We encourage new nominations so please get in touch if you have anyone you would like to nominate or indeed, if you wish to be nominated to sit on Council.
Please see 2023 Council Nomination form here!
Nomination forms should be received by email: info@ija.ie by the COB on Thursday, 23rd February 2023.

IJA COUNCIL ELECTIONS

UPDATE | 27.02.2023 – We are pleased to announce that this year we have received enough nominations to satisfy the constitutional requirements for Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Ordinary Council members, and all places can be filled without requiring a vote. Results and the names of the incoming Council will be announced at the AGM 2023 on 23rd March.

 

IJA Annual Dinner 2023

On behalf of the IJA Council, it is our pleasure to invite you to the IJA Annual Dinner 2023 – our largest and most enjoyable event of the year which we hope you, your friends and colleagues can attend.

We invite you to join us for celebrations, fine dining and prize giving on Friday, 12th May 2023 at one of Dublin’s most luxurious and beautiful venues – Conrad Dublin.

Date: Friday, 12th May 2023
Time: From 6.30 p.m.
Venue: Conrad Dublin, Earlsfort Terracе, Saint Kevin’s, Dublin 2, D02 V562 – Google Maps

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

Dress Code: Suits/Dress/Business (not black-tie)
Corporate Sponsorship: We are offering sponsorship opportunities for our Corporate members at the event. To sponsor a prize, please send details of prize to info@ija.ie by Friday, 28th April 2023. Your company logo will be displayed on the night on large screens and inside printed guest programmes.

Tickets:
* IJA Members: €130 (per person)
* Non-Members: €150 (per person)
* Corporate Members: €1,300 (Table of 10)
Cancellations made after Friday, 28th April are non-refundable.

Seating Arrangements: Round Tables seating 8-10 people. Corporate Tables catered for. If you would like to be seated at a particular table and/or have any dietary requirements, email special requests to us before Friday, 28th April 2023.

HOW TO BOOK:

Book Direct: info@ija.ie | Tel: 01-6787008 (Persons in Charge: Darina or Carmel)
Tickets Online: **Bookings online for the IJA Annual Dinner 2023 are closed now.**

RSVP/Booking Deadline: Friday, 28th April 2023
Please note that places are limited and early booking is advised.

IJA Annual General Meeting 2022 | Review

The 32nd Annual General Meeting for the Ireland Japan Association took place on Thursday, 24th March 2022. Meeting was held as a hybrid event with members attending in person and remotely via Zoom platform.

Raymond Hegarty, IJA Chairperson, thanked the outgoing Council members for their work, participation and team effort throughout the past year, Embassy of Japan for their continued support to the IJA, and all IJA Corporate and Individual members who have supported association and its activities in 2021.

Raymond Hegarty paid his respects to the late Derek Ryan, founder of Yamamori Japanese restaurants in Dublin. Yamamori has been a Corporate Member of the IJA and supporter of the IJA events for years.

In his report, Raymond Hegarty noted that 12 business and culture events were organized online and in person throughout the past year, including IJA Japanese Conversation Group, AGM 2021, Online Book Launch: Black Dragonfly by Jean Pasley, Sake Tasting Night, Origami workshop, Mid-Summer Japanese Outdoor Event, Tokyo Olympics: The Countdown, IJA Golf Outing 2021, Placing Employee Wellness at the Heart of Your Organisational Culture, tickets for the IJA members to the Ireland vs Japan Rugby Match at Aviva Stadium, Business Opportunities in Changing World, and Bounenkai Sake Reception and Dinner.

In 2021 IJA supported and promoted a list of online events organized by the IJA partner organisations, members and friends UCD Japan, Unique Japan Tours, the Ireland Japan Chamber of Commerce, Writers of Kyoto, Chester Beatty, Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens in Tramore, and many more.

The IJA supported Japanese School of Ireland with a donations in 2021.

Raymond Hegarty informed that IJA member’s network had 35 corporate members and 58 individual members in 2021. Two new corporate members joined the IJA in 2021 – VIOTAS and Shikkui Ireland.

An update on the Dr. and Mrs. Ushioda Scholarship was given during the meeting. Raymond Hegarty informed that after pausing scholarship award in 2020 due to Covid pandemic, in 2021 the IJA was honoured to award it to Francis Donnelly, studying for BA in Applied Languages, University of Limerick. Francis is planning to go to Nagoya University of Foreign Studies to continue her Japanese studies abroad. Raymond Hegarty thanked Paula Kelly for her support and assistance with the scholarship management and administration process over the last year.

Summary of the IJA Financial Statements for 2021 was shared with the AGM participants, membership subscription fees were discussed and approved for 2022/2023 and the new IJA Council members were announced.

Raymond Hegarty informed that this year there are 2 Council members leaving the Council. He thanked Verity Swan and Hiroaki Ozaki for their valuable advice, work and participation during their time on the Council. Yasuyuki Ozeki, former IJA Vice Chairperson will continue his work on the Council as an Ordinary Council member.

This year the IJA received enough nominations to satisfy the constitutional requirements for Chairperson and Ordinary Council members, and all places were filled without requiring a vote. This year 2 nominations were received for the IJA Vice Chairperson seat and voting took place from Thursday, 10th March – Thursday, 17th March 2022. Election results were reviewed and confirmed by an independent assessor – Stephen Power, Power & Associates.

We are delighted to announce that the new IJA Vice Chairperson is Tsugumi Yamamoto, IJA Individual member. We would also like to thank other nominee Hiro Ino, IJA Individual member, who will continue his work on the Council as an Ordinary Council member.

Four new Council members were welcomed to the IJA Council this year – Tsugumi Yamamoto, IJA Individual member who will take the seat of the IJA Vice Chairperson, and Brian Marconi, JTI, Hiro Ino, IJA Individual member and Jonathan Kelly, IJA Individual member who all will join the Council as Ordinary members.

The newly elected IJA Council for 2022:

Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson

  1. Raymond Hegarty, IJA Individual Member (Chairperson)
  2. Tsugumi Yamamoto, IJA Individual Member (Vice Chairperson)

Corporate Members:

  1. Brian Marconi, JTI
  2. Catherine Grennell-Whyte, Finnair/ATTS
  3. Darina Slattery, Unique Japan Tours
  4. Laura Goonan, Dillon Eustace
  5. Pamela Connell, Bank of Ireland Corporate Banking
  6. Stephen Mullin, CPL Ireland
  7. Yasuyuki Ozeki, JETRO

Individual Members:

  1. Eddie Hughes, IJA Individual Member
  2. Hiro Ino, IJA Individual Member
  3. Jonathan Kelly, IJA Individual Member
  4. Paula Kelly, IJA Individual Member

Not on Council but invited to attend meetings:

  1. Sou Watanabe (Honorary Member)

 

IJA Annual Dinner 2022

On behalf of the IJA Council, it is our pleasure to invite you to the IJA Annual Dinner 2022, our largest and most enjoyable event of the year which we hope you, your friends and colleagues can attend.
 
We will come together on Friday, 17th June 2022 to celebrate the IJA and its members, and the upcoming year ahead of us at one of Dublin’s most beautiful venues – Radisson Blu St, Helen’s Hotel. 
 
Date: Friday, 17th June 2022
Time: From 6.30 p.m.
Venue: Radisson Blu St. Helen’s Hotel, Stillorgan Road, Dublin

Guest of Honour: Mr. Martin Naughton, Irish entrepreneur and philanthropist, founder of Glen Dimplex
 
Special Members Prize Draw: 2 Return tickets to Japan sponsored by Finnair, IJA Travel Partner 2022
 
Dress Code: Suits/Dress/Business (not black-tie)
Corporate Sponsorship: We are offering sponsorship opportunities for our Corporate members at the event. To sponsor a prize, please send details of prize to info@ija.ie by Friday, 3rd June 2022. Your company logo will be displayed on the night on large screens and inside guest programmes.

Tickets:
* IJA Members: €80 (per person)
* Non-Members: €110 (per person)
* Corporate Members: €1000 (Table of 10)
Cancellations made after Friday, 3rd June are non-refundable.

Seating Arrangements:Round Tables seating 8-10 people. Corporate Tables catered for.
*
 If you would like to be seated at a particular table and/or have any dietary requirements, email special requests to us before Friday, 3rd June 2022.

RSVP/Booking Deadline: Friday, 3rd June 2022
Please note that places are limited and early booking is advised.
info@ija.ie | Tel: 01-6787008

TICKETS:
Bookings are closed now.
For more information, please email: info@ija.ie

IJA AGM 2022

The 32nd Annual General Meeting for the Ireland Japan Association will take place on Thursday, 24th March 2022 at 4.30 p.m.

Date: Thursday, 24th March 2022
Time: 4.30 p.m.
Venue: Dillon Eustace, 33 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2
Online: An option to join the IJA AGM 2022 remotely will be provided.

This event is open to ALL IJA MEMBERS, and we encourage you to attend.
Please note that you need to be a fully paid-up member to vote and attend the AGM.


COUNCIL NOMINATIONS
UPDATE | 24.02.2022 – Thank you for sending your nominations for the IJA Council elections. Submissions of nominations for the IJA Council elections are closed now.
Under the Constitution, we are required to have 3 Individual Council Members and 6 Corporate Member representatives. We encourage new nominations so please get in touch if you have anyone you would like to nominate or indeed, if you wish to be nominated to sit on Council.
Please see 2022 Council Nomination form here!
Nomination forms should be received by email: info@ija.ie by the COB on Thursday, 24th February 2022.

IJA COUNCIL ELECTIONS

We are pleased to announce that this year we have received enough nominations to satisfy the constitutional requirements for Chairperson and Ordinary Council members, and all places can be filled without requiring a vote.

This year we have received 2 nominations for the IJA Vice Chairperson seat and voting will be necessary to select one winner. Voting will take place on ElectionBuddy platform online from Thursday, 10th March – Thursday, 17th March 2022.

Each member will receive an email with a unique access key which can only be used to vote once, and your voting choices will remain anonymous. You will be able to cast your vote to elect your preferred nominee among candidates for the IJA Vice-Chairperson seat.
You can vote in the IJA Council 2022 election if you are a paid-up IJA Individual or Corporate member. Paragraph 10 of the IJA Constitution notes that every member shall have one vote:
  • Corporate members shall vote by one representative, therefore the voting link will be sent only to one person within the company (usually the company representative who made the membership application).
  • Family membership holders shall be restricted to one vote per family.

Please find the IJA AGM 2022 Agenda here!

Please RSVP by Friday, 18th March by email: info@ija.ie if you would like to attend the AGM. Please add a note if you will be attending in person or wish to join the meeting remotely.

IJA Bounenkai End of Year Party 2021 | Photo Gallery

On 2nd December the IJA members, friends, and supporters came together to celebrate and enjoy one of the most exciting cultural events and celebrations of the year – IJA Bounenkai End of Year Party with Sake reception and delicious Japanese dinner taking place at Yamamori Sushi, Dublin.

Eddie Hughes, IJA Council, welcomed everyone to the event and shared a message from Raymond Hegarty, IJA Chairperson:

Bounenkai – the Japanese traditional year end party is a way to close off the year with friends and colleagues and get ready to welcome a new year. The word Bounenkai literally means ‘a gathering to forget the year’ – to put the troubles of the year behind you and face the future.

This echoes traditional celebrations dating back to 16th century Japan, when the Samurai lords would gather in late December for a day of cultural activities such as writing and reciting poetry. In the evening they would celebrate with a large banquet.

We do not expect much poetry to be written tonight, but we do hope that you enjoy each other’s company at the sake reception and during the meal.

Thank you for supporting the IJA this year. I wish you all the best for this evening and for the end of the year. I look forward to seeing you all again in 2022. – Raymond Hegarty, IJA Chairperson

Colly Murray, RetroVino

Event guests had a wonderful opportunity to taste traditional Japanese Sake drinks, including premium Junmai Sake, accompanied by a short presentation on Sake history and culture by Colly Murray, RetroVino followed by a delicious dinner at Yamamori Sushi restaurant.
We would like to thank everyone  – our individual and corporate members as well as friends and supporters who attended this event. We appreciate your continued support to the IJA throughout this year.
A very big thanks goes to Colly Murray, RetroVino, for sharing his passion and knowledge about Japanese Sake, to Graham Ryan and his team, Yamamori Restaurants, for hosting our event and making sure everyone had the best time, and last but not least – to Eddie Hughes, IJA Council, for his time, support and help to make this event such a great success.

Note: Please note that during this event the IJA followed and complied with the health and safety recommendations and restaurant policy.

Photos: Eddie Hughes

IJA Annual General Meeting 2021 | Review

The 31st Annual General Meeting for the Ireland Japan Association took place on Wednesday, 24th March 2021. Following the official guidelines and taking into account the current situation in the country, the meeting took place online via Zoom platform.

The IJA General Meeting was called prior to the AGM 2021 to discuss and vote on the proposal to amend the Paragraph 10 (Election Procedure) of the IJA Constitution regarding the duration of both Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson holding of their positions. The proposed amendment was approved by majority and will be included in the IJA Constitution: ‘10.7. Both the Chairperson and the Vice-Chairperson shall be elected by the Annual General Meeting and shall hold office for a one year period and may be re-elected but may not hold the same office for more than three consecutive years.’

Raymond Hegarty, IJA Chairperson, thanked the outgoing Council members for their work, participation and team effort throughout the past year, Embassy of Japan for continued support to the IJA, AIB – the Patron member of the IJA in 2020, and all IJA Corporate and Individual members.

Raymond Hegarty paid his respects to the late Dr. Tom Hardiman (1929 -2020) who was the IJA Honorary Member and a passionate advocate of Ireland-Japan relations throughout his life.

In his report, Raymond Hegarty noted that despite the lockdown and numerous restrictions in 2020, the IJA adapted to the new situation and moved most of the events online. 10 business and culture events were organized throughout the past year, including Noh ‘Between the stones’ workshops and shows in Kilkenny and Wexford and the IJA Annual Dinner 2020 which was the last event the IJA managed to organise before the Covid pandemic hit the country, followed by a list of online events: AGM 2020, Hokkaido and the Coronavirus – coping with the second wave, IJA Photo Competition JAPANORAMIC, Kimono demonstration, Ikebana demonstration, Wellness talk ‘Happy Gut Happy Brain’, Managing Business Recovery Through Covid-19, New Business Opportunities with Japan and Ireland, and the IJA Japanese Conversation Group.

In 2020 IJA supported and promoted 12 online events in partnership with other organizations, IJA members and friends – UCD Japan, Unique Japan Tours and the Ireland Japan Chamber of Commerce.

The IJA supported three organizations with donations in 2020: Dublin School for Japanese Children (DSJC), Experience Japan festival in Dublin and 18th Japanese Speech Contest.

Raymond Hegarty informed that IJA member’s network has 34 corporate members and 47 individual members. Two new corporate members have joined the IJA in 2020 – Clover Aircraft Leasing and NTT Ireland Ltd. Raymond Hegarty thanked AIB for continued support to the IJA over the years as a Patron member.

An update on the Dr. and Mrs. Ushioda Scholarship was given during the meeting, noting that the very first recipient of the scholarship – Sophia Herar (DCU) – returned from her studies in Japan in 2020 where she studied at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies. Unfortunately, due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, Sophia’s stay in Japan was cut short but she has expressed her gratitude for the support to Mrs. Ushioda and the IJA.  Raymond Hegarty thanked Donagh Morris for his support and assistance with the scholarship management and administration process over the last 2 years.

In 2020, due to the pandemic, the scholarship award was put on pause but the IJA is delighted to announce that in 2021 the scholarship will be awarded to a student from University of Limerick – based on their academic merits. 

Summary of the IJA Financial Statements for 2020 was shared with the AGM participants, membership subscription fees were approved for 2021/2022 and the new IJA Council members were announced.

Raymond Hegarty informed that this year there are 8 current Council members leaving the Council. He thanked Colin Murray (Retro Vino), Donagh Morris (MUFG Fund Services), Eoghan Howe (Bank of Ireland), Graham Ryan (Yamamori), Hiro Ino (IJA Individual Member), Niall Moriarty (AIB), Shane Geraghty (Dillon Eustace) and Zach Schroeder (IJA Individual Member) for their work, participation and team effort during their time on the Council.

This year the IJA received a record number of nominations for the IJA Council elections – 17, and the elections for the very first time were held online from Thursday, 11th March – Thursday, 18th March.

Seven new Council members were welcomed to the IJA Council this year – Catherine Grennell-Whyte (Finnair/ATTS), Karl O’Reilly (KWE Ireland), Laura Goonan (Dillon Eustace), Pamela Connell (Bank of Ireland), Paula Kelly (IJA Individual Member), Rachel Curry (AIB) and Stephen Mullin (CPL Ireland).

The newly elected IJA Council for 2021:

Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson

  1. Raymond Hegarty (Chairperson)
  2. Yasuyuki Ozeki, JETRO (Vice-Chairperson)

Corporate Members:

  1. Catherine Grennell-Whyte, Finnair/ATTS
  2. Darina Slattery, Unique Japan Tours
  3. Karl O’Reilly, KWE Ireland
  4. Laura Goonan, Dillon Eustace
  5. Pamela Connell, Bank of Ireland Corporate Banking
  6. Rachel Curry, AIB Corporate Banking
  7. Stephen Mullin, CPL Ireland
  8. Tsugumi Yamamoto, Grant Thornton Ireland

Individual Members:

  1. Eddie Hughes, IJA Individual Member
  2. Hiroaki Ozaki, IJA Individual Member
  3. Paula Kelly, IJA Individual Member
  4. Verity Swan, IJA Individual Member

Not on Council but invited to attend meetings:

  1. Sou Watanabe (Honorary Member)

 

IJA AGM 2021

The 31st Annual General Meeting for the Ireland Japan Association will take place on Wednesday, 24th March 2021 at 3 p.m. Following the official guidelines and taking into account the current situation in the country, we would like to inform our members that the meeting will be held online via Zoom platform.

Date: Wednesday, 24th March 2021
Time: 3 p.m.
Online via Zoom platform: Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants closer to the event date.

This event is open to ALL IJA MEMBERS, and we encourage you to attend. Please note that you need to be a fully paid-up member to vote and attend the AGM.

Please find the IJA AGM 2021 Agenda here!
Please RSVP by by Friday, 19th March by email: info@ija.ie if you would like to attend the AGM. 

 

IJA General Meeting

The IJA has received a proposal to amend the Paragraph 10 (Election Procedure) of the IJA Constitution regarding the duration of both Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson holding of their positions. Proposed amendment:

‘7. Both the Chairperson and the Vice-Chairperson shall be elected by the Annual General Meeting and shall hold office for a one year period and may be re-elected but may not hold the same office for more than three consecutive years.’

As per Paragraph 13 of the IJA Constitution, A General Meeting of the Association, other than an Annual General Meeting, may be convened by giving to the members fourteen days notice of such meeting and specifying the purpose, time and venue during which a resolution will be put to the vote.

The IJA proposes that the IJA General Meeting takes place on Wednesday, 24th March 2021 at 3 p.m. – before the start of the IJA AGM 2021.


IJA Council 2021 Elections

We are pleased to announce that there were 17 nominations received for the IJA Council 2021 elections this year. Voting will take place on ElectionBuddy platform online from Thursday, 11th March – Thursday, 18th March 2021.

Each member will receive an email with a unique access key which can only be used to vote once, and your voting choices will remain anonymous. You will be able to cast your vote to elect your preferred nominee among candidates representing Corporate and Individual members (Ordinary Council members). Please do NOT share this link with anyone as it is a specific link JUST FOR YOU!

  • You can vote in the IJA Council 2021 election if you are a paid-up IJA Individual or Corporate member.
  • Council attendance sheet (April 2020 – March 2021) – please see here!
  • Paragraph 10 of the IJA Constitution notes that every member shall have one vote:
    • Corporate members shall vote by one representative, therefore the voting link will be sent only to one person within the company (usually the company representative who made the membership application).
    • Family membership holders shall be restricted to one vote per family.

IJA Annual General Meeting 2020 | Review

The 30th Annual General Meeting for the Ireland Japan Association took place on Thursday, 19th March 2020. It was hosted via conference call due to the Covid-19 developments in the country and advice from the authorities to avoid large meetings indoors.

Darina Slattery, IJA Chairperson, thanked the outgoing Council members for their work, participation and team effort throughout the past year, Embassy of Japan for continued support to the IJA, AIB – the Patron member of the IJA, and all IJA Corporate and Individual members.

In her report, Darina Slattery noted that 2019 was a very busy year for the IJA, especially with the Rugby World Cup taking place in Japan which created a lot of interest about Japan here in Ireland. 16 business and culture events were organized throughout the past year (14 events in 2019 and 2 events in 2020), including Japanese language courses, free Japanese conversation group meetings in cooperation with TCD, business briefings in cooperation with the IJA Corporate members, RWC Travel and Culture Day, Sushi & Sake experience, exclusive fine dining event at Michelin star restaurant Ichigo Ichie, IJA Annual Dinner, Annual Golf Outing, Japanese Noh ‘Between the Stones’ tour in Ireland and Bounenkai celebration at the end of the year.

The IJA supported four organizations with donations in 2019: Dublin School for Japanese Children (DSJC), Japanese School of Ireland, Experience Japan festival in Dublin and 17th Japanese Speech Contest.  

Ushioda Scholarship was established in honour of Dr. and Mrs. Ushioda’s major contribution to the development of the Ireland Japan Association and Ireland-Japan relations, and to underpin the association’s strong commitment to supporting Japanese studies in Ireland. In 2019, the scholarship was awarded to Sophia Herar, DCU.

Darina Slattery informed that IJA member’s network has 37 corporate members and 45 individual members. Four new corporate members have recently joined the IJA – CLP Resources plc, MUFG Investor Services, Retro Vino and Clover Aircraft Leasing. Darina Slattery thanked AIB for continuous support and decision to remain as a Patron member for 2020.

Summary of the IJA Financial Statements for 2019 was shared with the AGM participants, membership subscription fees were approved for 2020/2021 and the new IJA Council members were announced.

Darina Slattery thanked Neil Maher (Mitsubishi Electric) and Paula Kelly (Individual member) 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 also informed that after four years in the position of the IJA Chairperson, she is stepping down and thanked everyone at the IJA Council for a truly amazing work promoting Japanese culture and strengthening ties between both countries.

Four new Council members were welcomed to the IJA Council this year – Colin Murray (Retro Vino / Retro Sake), Eddie Hughes (Individual member), Hiroaki Ozaki (Individual member) and Zachary Schroeder (Individual member), and very warm welcome to the newly elected IJA Chairperson – Raymond Hegarty.

The newly elected IJA Council for 2020:

Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Ex-Officio

  1. Raymond Hegarty (Chairperson)
  2. Yasuyuki Ozeki, JETRO (Vice-Chairperson)
  3. Darina Slattery, Unique Japan Tours (Ex-Officio)

Corporate Members:

  1. Colin Murray, Retro Vino
  2. Eoghan Howe, BOI Corporate Banking
  3. Donagh Morris, MUFG Investor Services
  4. Graham Ryan, Yamamori
  5. Niall Moriarty, AIB Corporate Banking
  6. Shane Geraghty, Dillon Eustace
  7. Tsugumi Yamamoto, Grant Thornton Ireland

Individual Members:

  1. Eddie Hughes, Individual Member
  2. Hiro Ino, Individual Member
  3. Hiroaki Ozaki, Individual Member
  4. Verity Swan, Individual Member
  5. Zachary Schroeder, Individual Member

Not on Council but invited to attend meetings:

  1. Sou Watanabe (Honorary)
  2. Tom Hardiman (Honorary)

Darina Slattery informed that the IJA is carefully monitoring the situation regarding Covid-19 and, unfortunately, all IJA upcoming events in March have been cancelled. The IJA will be following public health advice guidelines from the authorities regarding events in the next months. Please follow announcements on the IJA website and social media.

Tag Archive for: IJA Council

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