Taoiseach to begin Japan trip focused on bilateral links
Updated / Monday, 30 Jun 2025 00:01
Taoiseach Micheál Martin is to begin a four-day tour across three cities in Japan, which will focus on bilateral relationships, trade and cultural links.
It is the latest in a series of visits by members of the Cabinet to the country following a recent visit by Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke.
In Tokyo, the first city on his visit, the Taoiseach will meet with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
Japan is Ireland's second largest trading partner in the region, with total trade between the two countries amounting to more than €21 billion.
Speaking ahead of his visit, the Taoiseach said: "In an increasingly complex geopolitical environment, Japan is an important strategic partner for Ireland on the global stage."
"Ireland and Japan are very like-minded on the major issues facing the world and I look forward to exchanging views with Prime Minister Ishiba and discussing how to strengthen the ties between our two countries."
He will also officially open Ireland House Tokyo - the new home of the Irish Embassy, and trade and investment agencies.
Mr Martin will then travel to Osaka, where he will attend Expo 2025.
The Government hopes the event, with its projected 28 milllion visitors, will raise Ireland's profile in Japan.
On the final day of his visit, Mr Martin will travel to Hiroshima, where he will lay a wreath at the Cenotaph to mark 80 years since the atomic bombing.
Mr Martin said he was honoured to visit Hiroshima "to remember all those who died as a result of the atomic bombing 80 years ago".
"The memorial at Hiroshima is a stark reminder to us all of the devastation wrought by nuclear war and the importance of peace and stability across the world," he said.
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Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Taoiseach embarks on four-day visit to Japan, with focus on investment
Taoiseach Micheál Martin arrives in Tokyo on Tuesday at the start of a four-day visit to Japan that will focus on an economic relationship that has doubled in size over the past decade. After meeting prime minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday, the Taoiseach will open Ireland House in Tokyo, which at more than €20 million is the largest capital project overseas since the foundation of the State. 'In an increasingly complex geopolitical environment, Japan is an important strategic partner for Ireland on the global stage,' the Taoiseach said ahead of the visit. 'Ireland and Japan are very like-minded on the major issues facing the world.' READ MORE He said he looked forward to exchanging views with Mr Ishiba and discussing how to strengthen the ties between the two countries. [ Japan's ageing population an opportunity for Irish medical technology companies, says EI chief Opens in new window ] After two days in Tokyo, the Taoiseach will travel to Osaka to visit the Irish pavilion at Expo 2025, an international exposition that is expected to attract more than 28 million people. He will end his visit on Friday with a visit to Hiroshima, where he will lay a wreath at the cenotaph commemorating those who died after the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city in 1945. Much of the Taoiseach's time in Japan will be spent meeting representatives of companies the IDA hopes to attract to Ireland, or which already have a presence in the State. Japan is an increasingly important source of foreign direct investment, and the footprint of Japanese companies in Ireland has doubled in the past decade, in terms of operations and jobs. 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