John Spillane is a musician, songwriter, performer, recording artist, storyteller and poet. A two-time Meteor award winner, John is one of the most accomplished songwriters in Ireland today. Among those who have covered his songs are Christy Moore, Karan Casey, Pauline Scanlon, Cathy Ryan, Sharon Shannon, Sean Keane and George Murphy. We’re delighted to welcome him to the Experience Japan main stage! A very appropriate song of John’s for this year Hanami Festival is  “The Dance of the Cherry Trees”

Sean Whelan, Philip Horan and Hitomi Akutsu mix Japanese and Irish music with their compositions on Shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute), guitar and Irish harp.  They will perform Japanese ‘sakura’ (cherry blossom) songs and some songs from Studio Ghibli films.

Japanese Jazz Band from Newpark Music Centre (Mostly!)

Yuzuha Taguchi (田口ゆず葉) Alto Sax (from Japan)Kento Takeyama (竹山健人) Tenor Sax (from Japan)Akiko Noguchi (野口明子) Baritone Sax (from Japan)Gennai Iwanaga (岩永源内) Electric Guitar (from Japan)Sebastian Jezzi (セバスティアン・ジェズィ) Percussion instruments (from Argentina)

Four Japanese and one Argentine musicians studying at Newpark Music Centre will play pieces including ‘Groove Merchants’ by Newpark Jazz Director Ronan Guilfoyle. Akiko and Yuzuha will graduate this year and appear in their final concert at the Newpark Grad Fest in the National Concert Hall in May.

Irish dancing/Japanese Taiko fusion performance

Olive Hurley is an an Irish Dance teacher and Adjudicator based in Dublin. She has helped blend Irish dance and Japanese music at Experience Japan since 2013. Sean O’Brien and Roma McSharry are champion Irish dancers who will dance to the beat of the Experience Japan taiko team.

Activities that took place around the park simultaneously alongside the main stage events.

Day: Sunday, 12th April 2015

Venue: Cowshed Theatre, Farmleigh Gardens

1. SHIBORI (indigo dyeing) with Mottanai Textiles

Former JET programme participant and textile artist Catherine Quinn will introduce the Japanese art of ‘Shibori’ with special pleating and binding techniques to produce beautiful dyed fabrics.

2. JAPANESE COOKERY TIPS with Fiona Uyema

Another former JET, Fiona Uyema, has prepared Japanese food on TV3 and contributed recipes to the RTE Guide and more. Fiona will offer an introduction to Japanese ingredients and give tips on how to prepare Japanese food at home.

3. GROWING BONSAI TREES with Bonsai Ireland

4. JAPANESE POTTERY

Day: Sunday, 12th April 2015Venue: Cabinet Kitchen, Farmleigh House

1. SHINTOISM IN JAPANESE CULTURE

Time: 12.45 & 15.00

Taisuke Kadosaki (Meiji Shrine, Tokyo)

Shinto priest Taisuke Kadosaki will examine the impact and importance of shinto beliefs on Japanese culture.

2. OUR SHARED JAPAN: TRAMORE’S NEW LAFCADIO HEARN GARDENS

Time: 12.15&13.30

Agnes Aylward, Project Director of Tramore’s proposed Lafcadio Hearn Gardens, explores the connection between Tramore and the writer Lafcadio Hearn and the efforts to establish his memorial garden.

Cabinet Kitchen is located in courtyard besides the main house. Each seminar will last 30 mins, including questions and answers.

Day: Sunday, 12th April 2015Venue: Area in front of Farmleigh House

Along with the Experience Japan Information Stall, these organisations will have stalls in front of Farmleigh House giving information on different aspects of Japan and its culture: