Who do you think was the first Irish person to set foot on the shores of Japan?

2017 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Tokyo was 25th Anniversary. So, we put together a list of events made an impact on Irish and friends community in Japan. If we are forgetting something please forgive us.  313 Years of Ireland Community in Japan.

Here is a list with events involving Ireland and Japan, Irish topics that made an impact on Japan, and cultural Interchanges between the two countries. Do you remember these? If you know any other facts that you think should be included, please contact INJ. By the way, year 2017 will be Irish Network Japan's the 30th birthday.

 

	Cultural and Community Interchange	General Events
1704	Robert Jansen, from Waterford, was seized off the coast of Kyushu. With five companions had escaped from the Dutch East India Company in the Philippines and set sail in a small boat hoping to reach Canton.	Jonathan Swift's 'A Tale of a Tub' is published
1864	Thomas James Waters, born in Birr, County Offaly in 1842 came to Japan and stayed until 1877.	American Civil War (1861-1865)
1868	John W.Fenton, born in Kinsale, County Cork, bandmaster of Britain's 10th Foot Regiment arrived in Yokohama	Meiji Restoration. The transfer of the capital to Tokyo.
1869	Fenton composed the first version of Kimi ga Yo, the national anthem of Japan
1871	Japan Mint in Osaka designed by Thomas James Waters	First Rugby Union International, Scotland beat England 4-1
1872	The Iwakura Mission, over 100 Japanese Government experts and students eager to learn about the latest technology and educational practices for the Meiji government's programme of modernisation, visited Dublin	First official Soccer International, Scotland and England draw 1-1 Mary Celeste found empty
1873	After Ginza was devastated by fire in 1872, Thomas James Waters was asked to design and build a new, modern street plan by government. He designed the two-story Gregorian brick buildings, influenced by the architecture of Dublin.	Levis Strauss start making Jeans Heineken Brewery Founded
1882	Charles Dickinson West, born in Dublin in 1842, was hired by the government of Japan as a foreign advisor, to teach steam engine mechanics, mechanical drawing, engineering, and naval architecture at Tokyo University.
1890	Lafcadio Hearn arrived in Yokohama, and became a teacher of a school in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture	Oscar Wilde's 'The Picture of Dorian Grey is published First Election of Japanese Diet
1891	Lafcadio Hearn married a Japanese woman and became a naturalized Japanese, taking the name Koizumi Yakumo. They move to Kumamoto.
1894	Koizumi took a journalism position in Kobe	First Sino-Japanese War (to 1895)
1897	Koizumi introduces the word 'Tsunami' to the English speaking world, through his literature	The word "computer", meaning an electronic calculation device, is first used
1896	Koizumi began teaching English literature at Tokyo University	The first international Olympic Games held in the Modern era in Athens
1904	September 26, Koizumi died of heart failure at the age of 54 in Tokyo	Russo-Japanese War (to 1905).
1906	Revd William Thomas Grey, who was a missionary at Keio University,former member of Trinity College hockey team introduced hockey to Japan.	'The Story of the Kelly Gang', the worlds first feature film is released
1914	The Hearn Society was established in Matsue
1957	Ireland and Japan formally established diplomatic relations on 5 March.
1963	Japan-Ireland Society was established	JFK Assassinated
1964	Residency of Japanese embassy was opened in Dublin	Tokyo Olympics
	Sapporo Breweries starts importing Guinness to Japan
1965	The Yeats Society of Japan was established
1971	The Bernard Shaw Society of Japan was established
1973	Residency of Irish embassy was opened in Tokyo	Ireland joined the EU
	Japan Ireland Economic Association (JIEA) is formed
1974	CTT (Coras Tractala, the Irish Trade Board) established its Tokyo office	-Rory Gallagher plays his first gigs in Japan -Japanese World War 2 soldier finally surrenders in the Philippines -FIFA World Cup West Germany
1975	The Oscar Wilde Society of Japan was established
1976	IDA Ireland established its Tokyo office	Montreal Olympics
1980		Thin Lizzy toured Japan for the first time Moscow Olympics
1983	President Hillery visited Japan	U2's first concert in Japan during their "War Tour" at the Nakano Sun Plaza. Thin Lizzy performed in Japan in mid year, before breaking up soon after
1984	The first 8 participants of the FÁS Overseas Graduate Programme come to Japan, Over the years 700 Graduates have been places all around Japan	Los Angeles Olympics
1985	Crown Prince and Princess visit Ireland
1986	Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co. (now called Astellas) established a factory in Ireland	FIFA World Cup Mexico
1987	INJ was established	250th Anniversary of World's First St. Patrick Day's Parade (in Boston)
		Rugby World Cup New Zealand
1988	The first Irish JET ALTs came to Japan. Since then 1000 have arrived here	Ray Houghton scores a great goal (At Euro'88)
		Seoul Olympics
1989	Taoiseach Charlie Haughey comes to Japan
	The James Joyce Society of Japan was established
1990	Fujisawa Pharma set up in Ireland.	"My Left Foot" was released in Japan FIFA Italia '90, Ireland gets to the Quarter Finals
1991	The first Irish Pub in Japan opened in Osaka	"The Commitments" was released in Japan
	CCE Japan was established	Hothouse Flowers perform in Japan
		The Chieftains came to Japan first to take part in a musical festival Rugby World Cup Britain/France/Ireland
1992	The first St. Patrick's Day Parade in Tokyo (Also first in Japan and Asia)	Irish topic became a trend of Hollywood movies
		"Far and Away", "Patriot Games", "Bram Stoker's Dracula" was released in Japan
	First Gaelic Game played in Japan, at the INJ Sports Day
		Barcelona (Summer) /Albertville Olympics (Winter)
	The first Celtic Festival
1993	The INJ Hibernian Players' first show	"The Crying Game" was a hit with Boy George's song
	The Ireland Fund of Japan (IFJ) and Emerald Ball founded
	Kanto Celts Football Club was established	J League (soccer league) started
	Eddie Irvine comes 2nd in the Japan F3000 Championship	Roddy Doyle won the Booker Prize for the novel "Paddy Clark Ha Ha Ha"
1994	The Celtic Society of Japan was formed	Success of Irish movie directors continues:
		"In the Name of the Father" , "Interview with the Vampire" released in Japan
		Kansai Airport opened / FIFA World Cup America /
		Lillehammer Olympics
1995	The first Irish Pub in Tokyo opened in Roppongi, serving the first Draft Guinness in Asia imported from Dublin	The Cranberries' first concert in Japan
		Pierce Brosnan became 007 and "GoldenEye" was released in Japan
	President Mary Robinson visited Japan	Great Hanshin Earthquake
		Rugby World Cup South Africa
1996	Japan representitives attend the first Asian Gaelic Games in Manila	Clannad's first concert in Japan
	Irish Culture Society was formed	The Corrs' first concert in Japan
	Taoiseach John Bruton visited Japan for the 5th EU Summit	Atlanta Olympics
1997	Travel writing on Ireland by Isao Moriyasu (Tokyo Shoseki) attracted many Japanese to Ireland	"Michael Collins" was released in Japan; A film about Irish history became a major Hollywood movie.
		"Titanic" was released in Japan, which interested many Japanese people in Irish dancing and music
	A band from Tokyo community, "Yer Mot's a Dog" made the first gig	"The Boxer" and "The Devil's Own" also released in Japan
		Hong Kong Handover
	Takeda Ireland Ltd was established in Bray	Death of Princess Diana
1998	Arrival of Irish bobsled team for Nagano	Enya won Japan Gold Disc Award
		Altan performed in Japan
	Japan GAA is officially formed	U2 came to Japan for Popmart Tour
	Enterprise Ireland established , through the amalgamation of the Irish Trade Board and other Agencies	Nagano Olympics
	A Japanese book [Crazy About Dancing in Ireland] by Rieko Yamashita (Tokyo Shoseki) boosted popularity of Irish Dancing	FIFA World Cup France
1999	Japan Rose entered Rose of Tralee competition.	Riverdance made the first show in Japan
		Nuclear accident in Tokai-mura
		Rugby World Cup Britain/France/Ireland
2000	Japan team's first victory for Asian Gaelic Games tournament	"Angela's Ashes" was released in Japan
		"Ordinary Decent Criminal" was released in Japan
	Japanese national Rugby team went to Ireland	Sydney Olympics
2001		Westlife's first concert in Japan Events of September 11
2002	Izumo and Chiba hosted the Irish national soccer team for the World Cup	Irish team for FIFA World Cup (Korea-Japan) came and made it to second round
	Ralph Firman wins the Motor Racing Nippon Championship	"Gangs of New York" was released in Japan Introduction of Euro coins and notes / Salt Lake City Olympics
2003	Special Olympics Japan team went to Ireland for Summer games	Hibernian Players' director, Stephen J Martin published the first book, "Superchick".
		"The Magdalene Sisters", "In America" was released in Japan
	Popularity of Irish Pubs increased noticeably after the World Cup	Miss Ireland was crowned Miss World 2003
		Iraqi War / Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster
	The first St. Patrick's Day Parade Kyoto	Rugby World Cup Australia
2004	The first Irish Trad Festival	Ireland was named best country in a quality of life survey by the Economist magazine
	Irish U-16 soccer team came for Toyota International Youth soccer Championship	Blooms Day 100th Anniversary
	Taoiseach Bertie Ahern visited Japan for the 13th EU-Japan Summit	Athens Olympics / Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami / Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake
	The first St. Patrick's Day Parade Yokohama, and Ise
2005	President Mary McAleese visited Japan	Irish National Rugby team came to Japan for friendly matches
		"Intermission" was released in Japan
	The Japanese Emperor and Empress visited Ireland	The Pogues were reunited and had concerts in Japan
		Expo 2005 Aichi Japan
	The first St. Patrick's Day Parade Nagoya	Shunsuke Nakamura joined Celtic Football Club of Scotland
2006	The first St. Patrick's Day Parade Sendai	"The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" based on C. S. Lewis' novel was released in Japan
		"The Wind That Shakes the Barley" , "Breakfast on Pluto" released in Japan
		The 100th anniversary of the birth of Samuel Beckett
		Japan became the first champion of World Baseball Classics
		FIFA World Cup Germany / Torino Winter Olympics
2007	50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations. Tokyo Tower, Ise Grand Shrine Torii and other monuments turned green to mark this.	"Once" was released in Japan
	Ireland and Japan concluded a Working Holiday Visa Agreement, which allow for the exchange of young people between the two countries	Rugby World Cup France
	The first St. Patrick's Day Parade Matsue/Kumamoto/Okinawa
2008	The first St. Patrick's Day Parade Tsukuba	Beijing Olympics
	Ireland Japan Chamber of Commerce (IJCC) replaces the JIEA
2009	Taoiseach Brian Cowen visited Japan	Irish U-20 Rugby Team came for Junior World Championship
	First Annual Celtic Ceili in Kanagawa	250th Anniversary of Guinness
2010	1st Rory Gallagher Festival in Japan
	Princess Mako visited Ireland to study English at University College Dublin.	Vancouver Winter Olympics / FIFA World Cup in South Africa
2011	1st Parade in Osaka, rebirth of Kyoto Irish festival, 1st Parade Queen Gala. Many events cancelled because of Tohoku Disaster	Great Tohoku Earthquake on March 11th
	The Government of Ireland announced that the Government will provide relief money of 1 million euro to Japanese Red Cross. (March 16th)
	H.E. Mrs. Mary McAleese, President of Ireland, H.E. Mr. Enda Kenny, Taoiseach (the Prime Minister of Ireland), and H.E. Mr. Eamon Gilmore, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade sent letters of sympathy to the government of Japan.
	Many of Irish people donated and had charity events for Japan in Ireland and Japan.
2013	Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made an official visit to Ireland on June 19 as the first incumbent Japanese prime minister.
	Taoiseach Enda Kenny, T.D. visited Japan on December 2.
2014	First "I Love Ireland Festival" at Yoyogi Park	Sochi Winter Olympics / FIFA World Cup in Brasil
2015		150th Anniversary of the birth of William Butler Yeats
2016		100th Anniversary of Easter Rising
		UK EU membership referendum
2017	60th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Ireland and Japan	Rugby Challenge Cup 2017 (Ireland vs Japan) in Shizuoka and Tokyo
	25th Tokyo St. Patrick's Day Parade
	First St.Patrick's Day Fukui / Okayama

< Embassy of Ireland in Japan : https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/japan/
Rose of Tralee : www.roseoftralee.ie
FAIreland : www.fai.ie
Irish Rugby : www.irishrugby.ie
Special Olympics : www.specialolympics.org
INJ Events in the Past