Tokyo celebrates St Patrick’s Day!
In Tokyo, about 30,000 people gathered to see Asia’s biggest snake participating in the parade yesterday. Irish dancers, Tricolour flags, Irish setters (one of whom was dressed as Michael Jackson) and leprechauns were among the participants in the parade. Anne Barrington Irelands Ambassador to Japan and Brendan Howlin, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform led the parade. “I’m blown away by the scale and enthusiasm of the parade” said Mr Howlin. “I didn’t expect to see so many Irish people in Tokyo”.
In Yoyogi Park the festival entertained spectators by providing Irish folk music and dancing. The food and drink provided at the event consisted of fish and chips, cottage pie and green beer. The President of the Irish Chamber of Commerce in Japan, Gerard Mulligan said “It’s all about building bridges and brand awareness and getting people to know our country.” Over 1000 Irish people currently live in Japan and Japan is Ireland’s 11th biggest trading partner. (Source Irish Times)
It is wonderful to see the Green worn so far a field, to all those who were involved and came out for today どうもありがとうございます (Thank you very much) from Dublin!
