Japanese Foreign Minister honours Ireland’s Experience Japan Taiko!

On 24 July 2018, Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Tarō Kōno at a ceremony in the Ikura state guest house in Tokyo, presented the award to the Irish Experience Japan Taiko Team. Its founder and leader, Nobuko Ijichi, received the award on behalf of all the Taiko Team members and their many supporters. The award was for ‘outstanding contribution to the promotion of cultural exchange through art between Japan and Ireland’. The Foreign Minister’s award was made to individuals and groups from all over the world for their contributions to the promotion of friendship between Japan and other countries.

Meet the Experience Japan Taiko Team

Founded in 2010 by Nobuko Ijichi, the Experience Japan Taiko Team is made up of UCD students later integrating Japanese-Irish secondary and primary students. The EJ Taiko Team has enjoyed major success and is in increasing demand to perform at public and high-profile events (+20 per year) highlighting cultural and friendship links between Japan-Ireland and with other cultural and heritage groups. Special performances include celebrations for 60th anniversary of Japan Ireland diplomatic relations; national and international sporting events including Ireland-Japan Rugby matches and the GAA World Games Series, Dublin City Council New Year Festival and many more. Their performances always draw large crowds across the generations, drawn in by the dynamic rhythms and the excitement of intercultural discovery and experience.