Emerald Ball 2006 Tokyo : March 17th, 2006

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The 13th Annual Emerald Ball was celebrated in grand style at the Miyako Radisson Hotel, Tokyo on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th 2005. Over 250 guests gathered for this gala showcase of Irish hospitality and entertainment.

This year we had a Green theme to the evening in more ways than one; Guests of Honour were the Irish Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr. Dick Roche T.D. and the Japanese Environment Minister Ms. Yuriko Koike, who is also a well-known former TV personality. Also present was Irish Ambassador to Japan Mr. Brendan Scannell who was accompanied by his lovely wife, Mrs. Margaret Scannell.

After a champagne reception, guests filed into the specially prepared banquet room and took their seats for the night’s entertainment. Mr. Declan Collins, the MC for the night, greeted the dinner guests.

Flautist Makoto Hasemi gave a beautiful performance of the Japanese and Irish National Anthems followed by speeches from both Ministers and also from the President of the Ireland Fund of Japan, Mr. Gerry Lanigan. Mr. Lanigan focused on some of the charitable and cross-cultural events supported by the Ireland Fund of Japan, which were depicted outside the banquet room in photographs and posters designed by some of the Irish children taking part in the exciting programmes.

The primary school twinning programme initiated last year between Shiogama in Japan and Ballyduff in Ireland is proving to be a resounding success. The Japanese and Irish communities have worked closely together and at this stage almost one thousand people have been involved in the planning and support of the programme. The Irish children, and their teacher, completed their visit to Shiogama on the 4th of March. The Ireland Fund of Japan extends its gratitude to the people of Shiogama whose hospitality during the visit was outstanding. The Japanese visit in March will include a visit to Áras an Uachtaráin where they will be greeted by President McAleese, who formally endorsed this programme at last year’s Ball.

Proceeds from last year’s Ball also went to the Barnstorm Theatre Company who recently toured Japan, presenting “The Elves and the Shoemakers” to young audiences in Tokyo, Tottori and Hokkaido. The company represented Ireland at the EU-Japan Festival of Theatre Arts for Children and Young People 2005. In addition to performances, the schedule included a reception where Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado of Japan met the group and offered her warm congratulations.

The Ireland Fund of Japan was delighted to act as a major sponsor of a new friendship between a Sendai High School and a Secondary school from Newbridge, Co. Kildare. Twenty-three students and their teachers, visited Sendai in February 2006. Students stayed with Japanese families, attended language classes and participated in a variety of educational and cultural activities. In October 2006, the Japanese students and their teachers will visit Newbridge to stay with host families there and to participate in a weeklong educational and cultural programme.

Of course the Emerald Ball was also about celebrating growing economic links between Ireland and Japan and even the menu was testament to that. As well as in areas such as IT and communications, Irish food companies are making big inroads into the Japanese market.
There were two stirring performances during dinner, the first from the Bachikai Taiko Drum Group from Ota-ku. The pounding beats of Japanese drums were fused with a lively Irish dance, performed by Mr. Takayuki Hayashi who was the first Japanese member of Riverdance. Later Mr. Hayashi joined with Tomoko Shirasawa from Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Japan for another entertaining display of Irish dancing.

The Emerald Ball has steadily gained a reputation as being an excellent opportunity for networking. Following an after dinner speech by Emer McPolin, Chairperson of the Emerald Ball, patrons had a chance to circulate and introduce themselves to one another.

Meanwhile the dance floor was being cleared and the main band of the night, Cashell, set up for a fusion of rock and pop music to get the crowd on the dance floor to have some fun.

All in all an excellent night’s entertainment and the Committee wish to extend their gratitude to all of our guests whom we hope to see again at next year’s Ball.

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