Tokyo Eire

March 7, 2013

Tokyo Eire

A parade through Irish Tokyo for St. Paddy’s Day

By

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on March 2013

In a city that boasts 40 Irish pubs and no fewer than 900 bars serving Guinness on tap, it’s time to get to the bottom of the Emerald Isle’s Japanese outpost ahead of St. Paddy’s Day. And if you’re don’t know where to grab the nearest pint of the black stuff in Tokyo, the good folks at Diageo have created the Guinness Navigator app (free) for both iOS and Android devices. No matter where you find yourself in Japan, you’ll never be far from a good stout.

Irish times

  • 1704 The first known Irishman in Japan, Waterford’s Robert Jansen, is seized off the coast of Kyushu. He escaped with five companions from the Dutch East India Company in the Philippines, and set sail in a small boat hoping to reach Canton
  • 1868 John W. Fenton, born in Kinsale, County Cork, arrives in Yokohama. He is bandmaster of Britain’s 10th Foot Regiment
  • 1869 Fenton composes the first version of “Kimi ga Yo,” the national anthem of Japan
  • 1873 After Ginza was devastated by fire in 1872, Irishman Thomas James Waters is asked to devise a new, modern street plan by the local government. He designs two-story Gregorian brick buildings, influenced by the architecture of Dublin
  • 1890 Lafcadio Hearn arrives in Yokohama, and becomes a school teacher in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture
  • 1891 Hearn marries a Japanese woman, becomes a naturalized citizen, and takes the name Yakumo Koizumi. The couple move to Kumamoto
  • 1897 Koizumi introduces the word “tsunami” to the English-speaking world through his literature
  • 1957 Ireland and Japan formally establish diplomatic relations on March 5
  • 1964 Sapporo Breweries starts importing Guinness to Japan
  • 1991 The first Irish pub in Japan opens in Osaka
  • 1992 Tokyo’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the first in Asia
  • 1995 The first Irish pub in Tokyo opens in Roppongi, serving the first Dublin-imported draft Guinness in Asia
  • 2004 Ise and Yokohama hold their first St. Patrick’s Day parades
  • 2007 Tokyo Tower, Ise Grand Shrine Torii and other monuments turn green to commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Ireland
  • 2013 The Irish population in Japan stands at 1,200-1,500, mainly in the Tokai region

Sources: Irish Network Japan; Aisling Braidan, Embassy of Ireland Japan

Irish For A Day

For the first time ever in its 21-year history, the Tokyo St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2013 will actually be held on St. Paddy’s Day. The sub-theme running through this year’s event is kizuna (the bonds beteen people) because Irish Network Japan, the organizing group, is welcoming the Ireland Support Japan (ISJ) network which has invited 70 students from Onahana Daiichi Elementary School in Fukushima to take part in the festivities. Look for them playing traditional Irish tin whistles—bought and gifted from Ireland—in the parade. Tokyo’s parade is the first in the northern hemisphere to take place on the day, and the largest in Asia. This year, about 1,500 participants and more than 50,000 visitors are expected to march their way through the city. Slainte!

March 17, 2-4pm, Starts at Omotesando Hills. Irish Network Japan