Japan-Ireland Relations 
January 2011
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 50th anniversary of their Diplomatic Relations in 2007.
High-Level Visits
- Ireland to Japan
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Year Name 2004 Prime Minister Bertie Ahern 2005 President McAleese 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 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 McGuinness2009 Minister for Education and Science O'Keeffe 2010 Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Ryan - Japan to Ireland
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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
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 434.8 billion yen in 2009, while Japan's exports to Ireland was 70 billion yen in the same year. The main import items from Ireland are nitrogenous compounds and medical appliances. As for exports to Ireland, the main items are passenger cars and computers.
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 44 as of Oct. 2010.
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 recent years approximately 50 Irish people are visiting Japan on the JET and other programmes annually.
Japanese Residents and Visa Requirements
The number of Japanese residents in Ireland is 1,576 as of Oct.2009, while that of Irish residents in Japan is 1,059 as of Dec 31, 2009. 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.
- Telephone Conversation between Minister of Foreign Affairs Hirofumi Nakasone and H.E. Mr. Micheal Martin, T.D., Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ireland (May 2009)
- Visit to Japan by H.E. Mr. Brian Cowen, Prime Minister of Ireland (January 2009)
- Visit to Japan by Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D., Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ireland (November 2007)
- 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and Ireland
- Prime Minister Abe today sent a congratulatory Message to the Taoiseach of Ireland Mr. Ahern (March 6, 2007)
- Message from Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, to Mr. Bertie Ahern TD, Taoiseach of Ireland (March 5, 2007)
- Release of Joint Document by Both Ministers for Foreign Affairs (December 16, 2006)
- Statement by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Their Majesties' Visit to European Countries (December 2006)
- Statement by the Press Secretary on the Arms Decommissioning of the Irish Republican Army (September 2005)
- Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan's Visit to Ireland and Norway
- Statement by the Chief Cabinet Secretary on the Visit to Europe by Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan (May 2005)
- Itinerary of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan's Visit to Ireland and the Kingdom of Norway (April 2005)
- Statement by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Their Majesties' Visit to European Countries (December 2004)
- Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan to visit Norway (December 2004)
- Visit to Japan by Mr. Noel Treacy, TD. Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and at the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland, with Special Responsibility for European Affairs (Announcement by the Press Secretary) (March 2005)
- Japan-Ireland Summit Meeting and 13th Japan-EU Summit Meeting (June 2004) (Prime Minister of Japan and his Cabinet Official Web Site)
- Meeting Between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Rt Hon Jack Straw (Outline) (July 2002)
- Statement by Foreign Minister Yohei Kono on the Establishment of the Northern Ireland Assembly Executive Committee (December 1999)
Press Secretary's Press Conference on Ireland
| Year | Month | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | May | 9 |
| 2005 | April | 12 |
| 2004 | December | 10 |
| 1999 | December | 3 |
- Embassy of Japan in Ireland Web Site
- Embassy of Ireland in Japan Web Site
- Ireland Japan Association Web Site
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