Irish Network Japan

INJ Press Release

PDF version

[Tokyo: 6 February 2004]

Ireland Festival 2004 and St. Patrick's Day Parade in Tokyo

Irish Network Japan (INJ) announced plans for the Annual Irish Festival 2004 including the 13th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in Tokyo. INJ is the executive committee of the St. Patrick's Day parade and Ireland Festival 2004. This year's festival promises a very full programme of Irish related events to enjoy through the seven weeks between mid February to the end of March.

Irish Traditional Music Festival / Friday, 13th February - Sunday, 15th February
Yokohama St. Patrick's Day Parade / Saturday, 6th March
Kyoto St. Patrick's Day Parade / Sunday, 7th March
Emerald Ball / Friday, 12th March
Irish Sports Day / Saturday, 13th March
Tokyo St. Patrick's Day Parade / Sunday, 14th March
Celtic Music Festival / Friday, 18th March
Shamrock Festival / Saturday, 26th March
Gathering for 2004 St. Patrick's Day / Sunday, 27th March (Seminars and various activities)

At a reception to launch the Tokyo Saint Patrick's Day Festival, the Ambassador of Ireland Padraig Murphy said, "St. Patrick's Day is one of Ireland's most famous festivals and I am very pleased to announce that the 13th annual parade in Tokyo to celebrate this day, is taking place this year. I am delighted also that Kyoto's second St. Patrick's Day Parade as well as the first ever St. Patrick's Day Parade in Yokohama, Motomachi, will be held. There will be numerous additional Irish related events in this year's festival which will offer opportunities to get to know and experience Ireland's culture."

Derek Fitzgerald, the chairman of INJ and member of Ireland Festival 2004 executive committee announced the sub-theme of this year's Parade and the various events of Ireland Festival 2004. "The sub-theme for 2002 was the FIFA World Cup, and for 2003 was the Special Olympics. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the death of Koizumi Yakumo, also known as Lafcadio Hearn. We also have the 150th anniversary of the birth of Oscar Wilde in 2004. And last but not least, we celebrate 100 years of "Bloomsday", a day immortalized by a walk across Dublin in 1904 by two of the characters in Joyce's classic Ulysses. For these reasons we decided that the sub- theme of this year's parade would be "Irish literature. As well as incorporating a variety of ideas into the Parade itself, there are also Irish literature related events during the Ireland Festival 2004."

Yoji Tomiyama, vice chairman of INJ and a member of Ireland Festival 2004 executive committee says, "the size of St. Patrick's Day Parade and Ireland Festival is expanding. An increasing number of people are (definitely are, is correct here not is Yoko) becoming more interested in Ireland and its traditions. We will continue to promote March so that it is recognised as Irish Festival month."

For further information on "St. Patrick's Day Parade in Tokyo" and "Ireland Festival 2004", please refer to the attachment (*) or visit the INJ website: www.inj.or.jp.

More details for each event will be announced in due course.

***

Contact detail:
Please contact Yoko Kawasaki of INJ Press.

About Irish Network Japan (INJ)
Established in 1987. The INJ is a non-profit organization staffed by a group of Irish and Japanese volunteers. Its main goal is to promote Irish culture in Japan and promote cultural exchange between Ireland and Japan through regularly held events. The INJ organizes a number of events through out a year.

(* Event Calendar)

Home / Events / About INJ / Seanachai / Message / Links