Tag Archive for: Japanese Culture

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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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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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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Ikebana Autumn Workshops with Tomoko Sempo Yanagi | PHOTO GALLERY

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We had a wonderful time at the Ikebana Autumn Workshops in October, diving into the beautiful world of Ikebana, the traditional Japanese art of flower arranging and learning from the esteemed Tomoko Sempo Yanagi, Professor of Ikenobo Ikebana Society and Chairperson of Ikenobo Ikebana UK & Ireland Group.

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We would like to thank Tomoko san for her expertise, passion, and guidance throughout the workshops, and all the participants who joined us in celebrating and exploring Japanese culture during this seasonal event. It was a weekend filled with inspiration, education, and new connections.
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A special thanks to Pauline and the team at the Warrenmount Education Centre in Dublin for the warm welcome and for providing a comfortable space for us all to learn and create.
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About Tomoko Sempo Yanagi
Tomoko Sempo Yanagi is a president of Ikenobo UK and Ireland Group and holds professor status with the Ikenobo School of Ikebana. Experienced in Ikebana since childhood. Her first public Ikebana demonstration was in California in 1989. After she moved to the UK in 1998, she exhibited her Ikebana works and conducted workshops at various places and occasions including The Embassy of Japan, Hammersmith and Fulham Flower Show, Google European HQ (Dublin), Cisco Poland, Flower Council of Holland, and a range of secondary schools in London. She was awarded a bronze medal at the Royal Horticultural Society, London Flower Show in 2001. Educated and lived in Japan, the US and the UK, she is also a mother of Irish/Japanese boys.
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Photos: Archive of Tomoko Sempo Yanagi
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IJA Japanese Book Club event featuring Irish writer and poet Nell Regan | PHOTO GALLERY

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The IJA Japanese Book Club event featuring Irish writer and poet Nell Regan was held on Saturday, 21st September and was hosted by ElectroRoute, an IJA corporate member, in Dublin city center.

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The event provided a special opportunity for book club members and Japanese poetry enthusiasts to meet Nell Regan in person and learn about the book ‘百人一首 – 100 Poems by 100 Poets’, as well as her work translating it into English with James Hadley. Nell’s presentation was captivating, allowing us to delve into the richness of Japanese literature and appreciate her remarkable talent for poetry.

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We extend our gratitude to Ambassador Maruyama for joining the event and reading some of the original poems from the book in Japanese.

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Attendees also had the chance to engage in a traditional Japanese card game and savor delicious, freshly baked Japanese treats provided by Gopan Bakery.

Special thanks to Tsugumi Yamamoto, IJA Vice Chairperson, for coordinating this event, and to our wonderful hosts at ElectroRoute for their excellent hospitality throughout the event.

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Japanese Film Festival 2024

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The Japanese Film Festival Ireland returns for its 15th edition this April, with a line-up of films that will bring the best of Japanese cinemas to towns and cities across Ireland.
Ireland’s only truly national film festival will showcase 19 films this year, from the latest anime hits to exciting indie discoveries. The festival will run from April 9 – 27, with screenings in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Waterford, Dundalk, Wexford and – for the first time – Bray.
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‘Having started with just 4 films in 3 cities in 2008, this event is now in its 15th edition with 19 films in 9 locations around Ireland. Its continued success is thanks to the dedication of all the organisers, but above all to the enthusiasm of Irish audiences. I am delighted to see so much interest in Japanese cinema in Ireland, and hope that everyone will enjoy this year’s exciting selection of films from Japan.’ – Mr. Norio Maruyama, Ambassador of Japan to Ireland
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This year’s line-up will bring Irish audiences everything from acclaimed dramas to crowd-pleasing anime hits. This year’s programme includes the Irish premieres of exceptional new dramas such as Egoist, Great Absence, Ichiko, Remembering Every Night and Shadow of Fire. Those searching for more light-hearted fare should seek out time-loop office satire Mondays: See You ‘This’ Week! and the playful horror-comedy Love Will Tear Us Apart. Anime fans won’t want to miss the first Irish screenings of new titles Lonely Castle in the Mirror and Komada: A Whisky Family. Audiences will also be able to enjoy a special insight into Japanese culture and traditions with films such as Tsugaru Lacquer Girl and Yudo: The Way of the Bath.
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The festival is proud to pay tribute to the late, great Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto with a special double bill in Dublin of his beautiful final concert film Opus and Hirokazu Koreeda’s award-winning Monster (which features Sakamoto’s final film score) in Dublin. Opus will also play in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford during the festival. Audiences in Dublin and Galway will also be able to catch this year’s classic screening – Shinji Somai’s coming-of-age drama Typhoon Club, which has been widely celebrated as one of the greatest Japanese films of the 1980s.
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‘We’re always excited to bring the latest Japanese films to audiences across Ireland, and this year’s JFF 24 has added significance as it marks the 15th edition of the festival and our collaboration with the Embassy of Japan. We look forward to welcoming festival audiences – whether you’re a JFF regular or have never been before – to this year’s screenings. We’ve made sure to ensure this year’s line-up of films has something for everybody, including everything from the latest festival favourites to future cult classics.’ – Maeve Cooke, director of access>CINEMA
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Experience Japan 2024 | Join the celebrations of Hanami Festival!

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Experience Japan festival will be returning to the wonderful Farmleigh House, Phoenix Park, Dublin on Sunday, 28th April 12 – 4 PM.
Hanami Festival is a free, family-friendly day out where you can enjoy and celebrate Japanese – Irish culture!
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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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This year’s programme is packed with amazing events for everyone! 
  • Get ready to be dazzled by a mixture of Irish and Japanese music and dance performances.
  • A mixture of Japanese food vendors, from sweets to savoury. Of course, expect some classic options as well!
  • Demonstrations from a mixture of styles 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.
  • Our tradition of reading verse under the cherry blossom continues this year.
  • A dedicated area in the Pleasure Gardens for practising your Japanese language skills, and meeting new friends!
  • An opportunity to see our many cosplayers all in one place! Taking place on the Martial Arts stage.

Please note that as a community festival, organisers cannot guarantee all activities and persons will be available on the day.

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HOW TO GET THERE?

The Hanami Festival 2024 is located in Farmleigh House, at the back of Phoenix Park, Dublin.

Please visit Experience Japan website for more details!

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Follow Experience Japan for more updates and news!
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Sublime Aesthetics or the Cultural & Mythical Inversion Power of Negativity | Japan Seminar Series

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We invite you to join Professor Hideki Kuwajima, Hiroshima University, as he seeks to uncover a certain possibility for a comparative aesthetic fusion between Irish and Japanese cultures, moving from Edmund Burke’s Ireland to Lafcadio Hearn’s Izumo in Hidden Japan at the upcoming seminar ‘Sublime Aesthetics or the Cultural & Mythical Inversion Power of Negativity’ organised by our friends at UCD Centre for Japanese Studies.
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Date: Wednesday, 27th March 2024
Time: 1 – 2 p.m.
Venue: UCD Newman Building, Room D101, Stillorgan Road, Belfield, Dublin
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Hideki Kuwajima
Born in Gumma, Japan, in 1970. Received his BA, MA and PhD from the Osaka University. Professor of Aesthetics, Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences / School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University. A Director/Executive Committee Member of Japan-Ireland Society, Japanese Society for Aesthetics, and Japanese Society for British Philosophy, as well as a Founding Committee Member of the Hiroshima-Ireland Friendship Association etc.
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IJA launches Japanese Book Club | Join today!

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We are delighted to announce the launch of the IJA Japanese Book Club! Our purpose is to create a vibrant community of book lovers who share a passion for Japanese literature, culture, philosophy, business, history, and more.
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We are dedicated to exploring a diverse range of books each month, engaging in thoughtful discussions, expanding our knowledge, and fostering friendships among members. What’s more, we won’t limit ourselves to just Japanese authors; we’ll also delve into the works of Irish authors with connections to Japan.
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With our official launch scheduled for September, we have conducted two trial runs with a small group of participants during the summer break. It was truly fascinating to see how different perspectives and insights emerge, even when reading the same book. We believe that sharing our reading experiences with others can deepen our understanding and appreciation of literature.
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Wouldn’t you like to be a part of this exciting literary journey with us? Whether you’re a seasoned reader or just starting to explore the world of books, our book club welcomes everyone. Together, we’ll embark on a fascinating exploration of Japanese literature and beyond.
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HOW TO REGISTER
Please let us know if you are interested in joining our book club and send us an email to: info@ija.ie. We look forward to having you as a fellow book enthusiast and a valued member of our growing community. Open to the IJA members only.
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More details about the first club meeting and book of the month:
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Tag Archive for: Japanese Culture

IJA Japanese Conversation Group

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Join our weekly FREE Japanese conversation group meetings and improve your Japanese conversational skills in an informal, friendly atmosphere!

Meetings take place every Wednesday from 8-9 p.m. via Zoom.

To join the group, please sign up by sending email to: info@ija.ie.

 

 

Basic Japanese language skills are required. Each week participants will discuss a topic named in advance, and, from time to time, native Japanese speakers will be joining the group to help with the advice.

Please note that this conversation group is a fun activity for people who enjoy speaking Japanese, and not a language course/class.

This group is open to the IJA members only. Age group: 18+ only.

Please contact us for more information and to sign up: info@ija.ie

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IJA Japanese Book Club

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We are delighted to announce the launch of the IJA Japanese Book Club! Our purpose is to create a vibrant community of book lovers who share a passion for Japanese literature, culture, philosophy, business, history, and more.
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We are dedicated to exploring a diverse range of books each month, engaging in thoughtful discussions, expanding our knowledge, and fostering friendships among members. What’s more, we won’t limit ourselves to just Japanese authors; we’ll also delve into the works of Irish authors with connections to Japan.
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With our official launch scheduled for September, we have conducted two trial runs with a small group of participants during the summer break. It was truly fascinating to see how different perspectives and insights emerge, even when reading the same book. We believe that sharing our reading experiences with others can deepen our understanding and appreciation of literature.
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Wouldn’t you like to be a part of this exciting literary journey with us? Whether you’re a seasoned reader or just starting to explore the world of books, our book club welcomes everyone. Together, we’ll embark on a fascinating exploration of Japanese literature and beyond.
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HOW TO REGISTER
Please let us know if you are interested in joining our book club and send us an email to: info@ija.ie. We look forward to having you as a fellow book enthusiast and a valued member of our growing community. Open to the IJA members only.
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Meetings take place once every quarter and the date, time and Zoom link is shared with registered club members via email. The meetings are conducted in English, and all selected books can be read in either Japanese or English.