Japan-Ireland Relations (Overview)

April 2013

History of the Bilateral Relationship

The two countries have always maintained a friendly relationship, with few issues of conflict. Even during the Second World War, Ireland remained neutral in spite of its being a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations. After Ireland’s separation from the British Commonwealth in 1949, Japan and Ireland established Diplomatic Relations in 1957. The Japanese legation in Ireland was upgraded to an embassy in 1964, while Ireland established its embassy in Tokyo in 1973. The Two countries celebrated the 50^th anniversary of their Diplomatic Relations in 2007.

High-Level Visits

Ireland to Japan

Year	Name
2004	Prime Minister Bertie Ahern
2005	President McAleese
2005	Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs Treacy
2006	Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government Roche
2006	Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern
2006	Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Martin
2007	Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children and Special Envoy of the 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and Ireland O'Malley
2007	Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern
2008	Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Coughlan
2008	Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Ryan
2009	Prime Minister Cowen Accompanied by: Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Smith Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment McGuinness
2009	Minister for Education and Science O'Keeffe
2010	Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Ryan
2011	Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Gilmore
2012	Minister for Finance Noonan
2012	Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Sherlock
2012	Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government O'Dowd
2013	Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Varadkar

Japan to Ireland

Year	Name
2000	The Princess Sayako (the present Ms. Sayako Kuroda)
2002	Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs and for Science and Technology Policy Omi
2002	Senior Vice Minister for Finance Taniguchi
2003	Princess Takamado
2004	Senior Vice Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Harada
2005	The Emperor and Empress
2006	Senior Vice Minister for Health, Labour and Welfare Akamatsu
2007	Senior Vice Minister for Finance Tanaka
2007	Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Fukui
2012	Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Yamane
2012	Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shimba

Political Relations

After the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, Ireland donated 1million Euro to Japan through the Japanese Red Cross Society and proposed to provide emergency aid supply through the European Union in order to help the afflicted people.

Economic Relations

Trade and investment between the two countries have been in favorable condition in general. The Government of Ireland actively promotes exports as well as inward investment from foreign companies.

The exports from Ireland to Japan was 353.3 billion yen in 2012, while Japan's exports to Ireland was 70.4 billion yen in the same year. The main import items from Ireland are organic compounds , optical instruments and medicines. As for exports to Ireland, the main items are organis compounds, medicines and passenger cars.

Japan's investment to Ireland is in such areas as ICT, pharmaceutical, and research and development industries. The number of Japanese companies in Ireland is 41 as of Oct. 2011.

Cultural Exchanges

Many cultural activities, such as Japanese Film Festival and Japanese Speech Contest, have been implemented by both governments and other organizations, including the Japan Foundation and the Ireland-Japan Association. In 2012 39 Irish people are visiting Japan on the JET.

Japanese Residents and Visa Requirements

The number of Japanese residents in Ireland is 1,628 as of Oct. 2011, while that of Irish residents in Japan is 1,065 as of Dec 31, 2011. The two countries concluded a visa exemption agreement, which allows a stay of less than 6 months in each other's country without having to apply for a visa, unless a person engages in profit-making activities. Japan-Ireland Working Holiday programme started from Jan. 2007. In 2012, the number of visa issued by Japan to Irish nationals was 42, while its number by Ireland to Japanese nationals was 251.

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