Tabitha Monahan: Enya, Guinness and Wagyu beef – Taoiseach on a mission to deepen ties as he visits Japan
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Irish Independent
13 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Tabitha Monahan: Enya, Guinness and Wagyu beef – Taoiseach on a mission to deepen ties as he visits Japan
By 11.30am, the temperature in Tokyo had already hit 31C as the 302nd Military Police Company filed into the wood-panelled hall of Kantei, the official office of the Japanese prime minister.
The Journal
21 hours ago
- The Journal
This Irish embassy in Japan is the state's most expensive building constructed outside Ireland
IRELAND HOUSE IN Tokyo is the most expensive capital project the Irish government has undertaken outside the island of Ireland. The building, which will hold the new embassy, the ambassador's residence as well as the hubs for Enterprise Ireland, the IDA and Bord Bia, was officially launched today by Taoiseach Micheál Martin. In 2017, the government decided to develop a new Ireland House in Japan to showcase and promote Ireland. At a cost of €20.5 million it is the most expensive building constructed outside the state. Though questions have been raised in the past about the cost, it is just three years since the Taoiseach turned the sod on the project and it has come in on budget. Advertisement Taoiseach turning the sod on the project three years ago. PA PA Batting away the criticisms about the cost in 2020, Brendan Rogers, the former deputy secretary general of the Department of Foreign Affairs, told the Business Post that money spent was fully justified. 'This will represent Ireland to the Japanese nation,' he said, stating that creating a good impression was extremely important when it came to doing business in Asia. Henry J Lyons, a Dublin architectural firm, won the design competition for the project five years ago. Peter McGovern, architect and director of the firm told The Journal that the project is about integrating the Irish tower house and the very traditional Japanese timber joinery in one contemporary fusion. Related Reads Over Guinness and Enya music, Martin talks trade, undersea cables and 'Bakebake' with Japanese PM Flogging beef tongue and Irish whiskey: Taoiseach and ministers travel to Japan in major trade push I Henry J Lyons Henry J Lyons 'Tokyo is a very particular kind of city, and it's quite different than Dublin. Context is less important in terms of the architectural language. So this building is really quite distinctive own identity,' he said. 'I think you've seen everybody who comes into the building, take an intake of breath. It is stunning. The light quality, the way the spaces flow, are all very positive. And I think that this is the way we should be presenting ourselves, particularly on foreign soils, as a confident nation, who have a real place in the world,' he added. Speaking today at Ireland House, the Taoiseach said the Irish government's decision to build Ireland House Tokyo is a very tangible sign of Ireland's commitment to the relationship with Japan. He said the building will 'serve as a platform for Team Ireland to continue their very valuable work here in Tokyo for decades to come.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Irish Examiner
No use crying over spilt stout: Taoiseach rallies after faux pas in Tokyo
As the Taoiseach concluded his speech opening the new Ireland House in Tokyo, he reached under the table to grab two glasses of Guinness left for him. While one of the glasses was successfully retrieved, in a slip, Micheál Martin knocked over the second and managed to spill most of its contents. Acknowledging his faux pas, the Taoiseach said: 'It's the first time I've ever had to position two glasses of Guinness on a podium underneath. As I've just experienced, it's a very difficult thing to do." Raising his one unsplit Guinness, the Taoiseach opted to cheers in both Irish and Japanese, with chants of 'sláinte' and 'kanpai' ringing out throughout the room. However, earlier in the day, events went off without a hitch, with the booming sounds of Amhrán ná bhFiann ringing through the glass walls of the Kantei, the Japanese Prime Minister's official offices. The Taoiseach had to try and hide his smile as he walked into the sweltering offices of the Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, clearly loving every moment of the pomp and ceremony of the place. Soldiers and officers from the 302nd Military Police Company raised and lowered their bayonetted rifles with precision, with booming slams as the butts of the guns hit the floor in time. It's not Micheál Martin's first rodeo in Japan, having visited the country four times previously. The meeting with Mr Ishiba was cordial, with gathered diplomats and officials having donned green ties for the occasion. White-gloved attendants were sure to lash out cups of green tea, which the Prime Minister had been made aware is the Taoiseach's drink of choice, for each guest. It was reported back that the Prime Minister opted to pump in Irish music during the meeting, with Enya among the artists played in the background. Glasses of Guinness and sake were available during the working lunch, with options of colcannon and sashimi also available. Media were carefully corralled into the meeting room and were put under strict orders not to record the bilateral with their smartphones, leaving the photographers and cameramen alone to capture the moment. It was striking, however, to see the comparatively few women on the Japanese delegation compared to the Irish one. Just one woman could be seen on the Japanese side, compared with five, not including the translator, attending for Ireland. Opening of Ireland House Mr Ishiba congratulated the Taoiseach on the opening of Ireland House – the new home of Ireland's embassy in Tokyo – three years on from Mr Martin turning the sod on the site. A comparatively short turnaround time compared to many projects built at home, where cost overruns and delays are more typical. This was put to the Taoiseach, but he pushed back firmly, saying projects that run on time and on budget generally don't get the same level of coverage. Unlike the money pit that is the National Children's Hospital, or the Cork Event Centre, where a brick has yet to be laid despite sods being turned almost a decade ago. There was plenty of pomp and circumstance as the opening kicked off, with VIP guests like Princess Takamado of the Japanese Royal Family and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hisayuki Fujii. Glasses of Guinness or Asahi were doled out to guests, while the Toyota Ceilí Band played sweetly in the background. Kozo Toyota, who starred in an ad for Smithwicks Ale in recent months, had his flute while Ria Adachi, a 15-year old harp prodigy, played alongside him. The Taoiseach singled Ms Adachi out in his speech, praising her for taking home gold in the under-15 category of Harp Slow Airs at the 2024 Fleadh Ceoil in Wexford, the first Japanese person to win. Read More Taoiseach and Japanese prime minister pledge to deepen economic and trade links
