MAIN STAGE EVENTS
- 12:00 – 13:00 – Opening | J-pop dance | Irish & Japanese music performances | Taiko drumming
- 13:00 – 14:30 – Children’s performance | Japanese traditional dance | Rock music | Jazz music
- 14:30 – 15:45 – Irish Folk Music, Japanese Traditional Dance, Newpark Japanese Jazz band
- 15:45 – 16:00 – Japanese matsuri grand finale
About the performers
Red Empire are a rock band from Dublin and Athlone. They have performed live on RTE’s Saturday Night Show, TG4’s Róisín and most of the major radio stations throughout the country. They’ve recently released their debut album, Inhale, and are known for ‘Michibiki’, a Japanese translation of their song ‘Deliver Me’.
Irish Shakuhachi player Philip Horan, Japanese Irish harpist Junshi Murakami and Irish guitarist Sean Whelan perform a fusion of Japanese and Irish music. They have been friends and supporters of Experience Japan since 2010.
Robbie Walsh is a young Irish bodhrán player who in 2008 became the Dublin, Leinster and All Ireland Champion. Robbie has played with bands and shows including The Hunters, Keeva, B*witched, Blasta, The Jeremiahs, Celtic Céilí, Celtic Legends and Damhsa, entertaining audiences from the US to the Middle East.
The Japanese Jazz Guitar Trio came together through Newpark Music Centre. Junya Kameyama, Gennai Iwanaga and Daiki Kuto play jazz but also love arranging and performing Japanese animation music in jazz style.
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES & DEMONSTRATIONS
- COSPLAY
- GRAFITTI WALL
- BON ODORI DANCE
- ORIGAMI
- POETRY/HAIKU
- FACEPAINTING
- TAMAIRE/POLE BASKET BALL
- YOYO FISHING
- YUKATA/KIMONO
Some of Ireland’s best cosplayers showcased their creations on the martial arts stage at 2pm.
Artist Shota Kotake drew and painted in anime style.
A traditional Japanese dance, performed by the mothers of students in the Japanese School of Ireland.
Fold paper to make classic origami shapes including the crane.
Members of Haiku Ireland and the Irish Haiku Society gave poetry readings in the Walled Garden.
Our professional face painters brightened the faces of children at the festival!
A familiar game to anyone who’s been to a Sports Day in Japan!
A classic Japanese festival game – fish the yo-yo tsuri (balloon) from the water.
Try on traditional Japanese Yukata and Kimono robes, and take a picture!
FOOD STALLS & SUPPLIERS
KOKORO SUSHI BENTO, YAMAMORI, WA CAFÉ, SUSI FOODS, OISHII FOOD, MASAKI NAKAGAWA, ASIA MARKET, P&K FOODS, CACTUS
JAPANESE CRAFTS
SHIBORI (indigo dyeing) with Mottanai Textiles, GROWING BONSAI TREES with Bonsai Ireland, JAPANESE POTTERY, IKEBANA
SEMINAR SERIES
1. CODERDOJO, JAPAN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION CENTRE (JICE), RAKUGO WITH DR TILL WEINGARTNER, JAPANESE COOKING JOURNEY WITH FIONA UYEMA
INFORMATION STALLS
- Embassy of Japan in Ireland
- Japanese Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR)
- JET Programme & Irish JET Alumni Association
- JICE
WORKSHOPS
CODERDOJO, CALLIGRAPHY, JAPANESE CULTURE CLUB