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Ireland–Japan relations

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Ireland–Japan relations (Irish: caidreamh idir Éirinn agus an tSeapáin; Japanese: アイルランドと日本との関係, romanized: Airurando to Nihon to no kankei) are the bilateral relations between Ireland and Japan. Both nations are members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Ireland-Japan relations
Map indicating locations of Ireland and Japan

Ireland
Japan
Diplomatic mission
Irish Embassy, TokyoJapanese Embassy, Dublin

History

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Taoiseach Enda Kenny signing a book of condolence for the victims of the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami at the Japanese Embassy in Dublin on 22 March 2011.

The oldest record of an Irish person visiting Japan dates back to July 1704, when an Irish sailor, Robert Jansen, was seized off the coast of Kyushu. Jansen and five companions had escaped from the Dutch East India Company in the Philippines and set sail in a small boat hoping to reach Canton (present day Guangzhou). Initially, Jansen and the others were suspected of being Portuguese missionaries and were held until November 1704 before they were finally released and allowed to join a Dutch ship bound for the city of Batavia (present day Jakarta) in the Dutch East Indies.[1][2]

The first contact between Ireland and Japan took place in December 1872 when members of the Iwakura Mission (while visiting England) traveled to Dublin which became a symbolically significant moment in the development of relations between the two countries.[3] Following the Meiji Restoration (1868), Irish men and women emigrated to Japan, making their mark in a variety of fields. Irish writer Lafcadio Hearn (a.k.a. Koizumi Yakumo) immigrated to Japan and wrote several books about Japan.[3] In 1873, brothers John and Cornelius Collins (who originated from Carrigaline, Cork) helped found the Imperial Japanese Navy.[4] During the Meiji period, hundreds of Irish nuns and priests have lived, work and taught in Japan since they first arrived during that period. Many Irish nuns and priests also chose to remain in Japan during World War II.[2]

In March 1957, Ireland and Japan officially established diplomatic relations. Japan was the first east-Asian country with which Ireland established diplomatic links.[3] That same year, both nations accredited ambassadors to each other capitals. In 1964, Japan upgraded its diplomatic legation in Dublin to an embassy. In 1973, Ireland opened a resident embassy in Tokyo.[5] In September 1983, Irish President Patrick Hillery became the first Irish head of state to visit Japan.[3] In 1985, Japanese Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko paid a visit to Ireland.[3] The Royal couple would later return to Ireland as Emperor and Empress of Japan in 2005.[5] In June 2013, Shinzō Abe became the first Japanese Prime Minister to visit Ireland.[6]

Both nations work closely together in the United Nations and have a shared commitment to democracy, human rights, freedom and justice, peace, the rule of law, and the eradication of poverty.[3] In 2017, both nations celebrated 60 years of diplomatic relations.[7]

High-level visits

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High-level visits from Ireland to Japan[5][8][9]

High-level visits from Japan to Ireland[5]

Agreements

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Both nations have signed several bilateral agreements, such as an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income (1974); an agreement on a working holiday visa (2007); an agreement to further consolidate bilateral political, economic and cultural ties, and also to promote mutual understanding by strengthening contact and exchange between both peoples (2007); an agreement on social security (2011), and an agreement on visa exemption of 6 months for citizens of both countries (2016).[5][11]

Trade

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In 2016, trade between Ireland and Japan totaled US$6.9 billion.[5] Ireland's main exports to Japan are optical instruments and medicines. Japan's main exports to Ireland are medicines and cars. Japan's investment to Ireland is in areas such as ICT, pharmaceutical, life-science and financial services. There are currently 80 Japanese companies investing and operating in Ireland.[5] There are currently 32 Irish companies operating in Japan. In July 2018, the European Union (which includes Ireland) signed a free trade agreement with Japan.[12]

Resident diplomatic missions

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  •  
    Embassy of Ireland in Tokyo
  •  
    Embassy of Japan in Dublin

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "How Irish eyes were opened on historic '05 Japan trip". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  2. ^ a b "History of Ireland-Japan Relations". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 16 November 2017. Archived from the original on 16 November 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Discovering Irish-Japanese relations
  4. ^ O’Riordan, Sean (25 Jul 2021). "Explained: The mystery behind Japanese flag that flew at Cork GAA matches". Irish Examiner.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Japan-Ireland Relations (Overview)
  6. ^ Abe the first serving Japanese PM to visit Ireland since independence
  7. ^ Celebrating 60 Years: Ireland - Japan Diplomatic Relations
  8. ^ "State Visits of the Hillery Presidency". Archived from the original on 2022-06-26. Retrieved 2018-09-09.
  9. ^ President Mary Robinson in Osaka, Japan
  10. ^ "Taoiseach Micheál Martin to visit Japan and Singapore".
  11. ^ Double Taxation Treaty between Ireland and Japan
  12. ^ EU and Japan sign one of history’s largest trade deals
  13. ^ Embassy of Ireland in Tokyo
  14. ^ Embassy of Japan in Dublin
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