This page will be updated regularly with information on upcoming events with an Ireland/Japan flavour. Please check back often to see if there is anything that you might find of interest. To have your event included on this listing, please apply using this form (Word 50kb).

EXHIBITION
Koizumi Yakumo - The Secret of Lafcadio Hearn
Saturday 26 June - Sunday 5 September
Exhibition commemorating the 160th Anniversary of Lafcadio Hearn's birth and the 120th Anniversary of his arrival in Japan.
Venue: Contemporary Art Museum Kumamoto
For more details, please contact the museum.
TEL 096-278-7500 / E-mail gamadas@camk.or.jp


EXHIBITION
Richard Gorman, Paintings and Prints
(Tokyo) Saturday 11 September - Sunday 24 October
(Tochigi) Saturday 30 October - Sunday 28 November
Richard Gorman is one of Ireland's most celebrated contemporary artists. This exhibition is a collection of his works from 1998 when he first exhibited in Japan.
Venue: Mitaka City Gallery of Art (Tokyo) & Ashikaga Museum of Art (Tochigi)
For more information and enquiries:
- Mitaka City Gallery of Art (Tokyo)
http://mitaka.jpn.org/gallery/
http://mitaka.jpn.org/ticket/100911g/
TEL 0422-79-0033
- Ashikaga Museum of Art (Tochigi)
http://www.watv.ne.jp/~ashi-bi/
TEL 0284-43-3131
[Related Workshop: Kids Art Club]
1) Explore with Mr. Gorman - Forest of Colours and Shapes
Monday, 20 September, 10:30-15:30
at Mitaka City Gallery of Art, Art Culture Centre, B1F Art Studio
for up to 20 elementary school students.
Fee: 2,000 yen
Application deadline: Saturday 11 September
2) Let's Gorman! Colourful Strategy
Sunday, 3 October, 14:00-16:00
at Mitaka City Gallery of Art
for up to 10 elementary school students
Fee: 500 yen
Application deadline: Friday 24 September
* For application and more information, please see http://mitaka.jpn.org/gallery/


MUSIC
Rory Gallagher Tribute Festival in Japan 2010
Sunday 19 September
Doors open 15:30 Start 16:00
Featuring artists: 309, Little Wing, KKKR, O.E. Gallagher
Venue: SPACE WITH (Iidabashi, Tokyo)
For more details and enquiries:
rory_festival@yahoo.co.jp
http://www.geocities.jp/rory_festival/e-index.html


CONFERENCE
The 46th Annual Conference of the Yeats Society of Japan
Saturday 25 - Sunday 26 September
Venue: Ryukyu University (Okinawa)
Guest speaker: Emeritus Professor Okifumi Komesu (Ryukyu University) who will speak on cultural similarity between Ireland and Okinawa.
For more details and enquiries, please see the Society's website:
http://www.konan-wu.ac.jp/~tanigawa/Unicorn_Web/top.htm


FESTIVAL
The 21st Mitaka International Exchange Festival
Sunday 26 September, 10:00-16:00
Festival to promote cultural exchange: music, food and crafts from all over the world. Irish Network Japan will have a booth offering Irish beers (including Guinness) and other Irish goods. Also there will be Irish music & dance performances.
Venue: Inokashira West Park (Mitaka City, Tokyo)
Admission free
Festival Organiser: Mitaka International Society for Hospitality (MISHOP)
For more details and enquiries:
MISHOP www.mishop.jp
TEL 0422-43-7812 mishop@parkcity.jp


LECTURE/SYMPOSIUM
Lecture & Symposium on Lafcadion Hearn
Sunday 26 September
To mark the 120th anniversary of his arrival in Japan and the 160th anniversary of his birth, Kumamoto University Library will organise a public lecture followed by a symposium on Lafcadio Hearn.
Venue: Kumamoto University, 100th Anniversary Memorial Hall
For details and enquiries:
sh-nakamura@jimu.kumamoto-u.ac.jp
www.lib.kumamoto-u.ac.jp


THEATRE
Theatre Trouep EN: Scenes from the Big Picture
Friday 1 - Sunday 10 October
Theatre Troupe EN performs the Owen McCafferty's play, a blend of tragedy and comedy or a reminiscent of Bertolt Brecht's and Harold Pinter's plays.
Venue: Kinokuniya Hall (Shinjuku, Tokyo)
For more details and ticket information:
www.en21.co.jp
TEL 03-5828-0654


EXHIBITION
Koizumi Yakumo Exhibition
Saturday 2 October - Sunday 14 November
To mark the 160th anniversary of his birth and the 120th anniversary of his arrival in Japan, this exhibition will introduce the life and works of Lafcadio Hearn, including his link with Kanagawa. There will also be public lectures and reading event.
Venue: Kanagawa Museum of Modern Literature (Yokohama City)
Events:
9 Oct. lecture by Mr. Masao Higashi (anthologist, literary critic)
23 Oct. reading by Mr. Shiro Sano (actor)
31 Oct. lecture by Prof. Bon Koizumi (University of Shimane Junior College/ great-grandchild of L. Hearn)
3 Nov. lecture by Mr. Noboru Tsujihara (writer)
For more details, tickets and enquiries:
Kanagawa Museum of Modern Literature
TEL 045-622-6666
FAX 045-623-4841
www.kanabun.or.jp


EXHIBITION/SEMINAR
Financial Information Technology 2010 (FIT2010)
Thursday 7 - Friday 8 October
FIT2010 will provide the solutions of IT investment, which will be one of the most
important management strategies for financial institutions. Experian (Japan) which has its  HQ in Dublin, will be among the exhibitors.
Venue: Tokyo International Forum Exhibition Hall
Organiser: The Japan Financial News Co.,Ltd. (Nikkin)
For more details and enquiries:
FIT-FAIR@NIKKIN.CO.JP or 03-3261-9971
http://www.nikkin.co.jp/fit2010/


CONFERENCE
IASIL-Japan The 27th International Conference: “Offshore Irelands: Irish Influence and Influences”
Saturday 9 - Sunday 10 October
Annual Conference for Irish Literature and Culture. We invite two poets (Dennis O’Driscoll & Julie O’Callaghan) as guest lecturers from Ireland, in addition to two symposia and 10 paper readings.
Venue: The University of Tokyo, Komaba Campus
For details, please see their website or contact the IASIL-Japan Office (Prof. Kazuhiro Doki of Aichi University of Education):
Tel: 0566-26-2244
Email: kdoki@auecc.aichi-edu.ac.jp


EXHIBITION
The Open Mind of Lafcadio Hearn: Homage to Lafcadio Hearn (Art Exhibition)
1) Sunday 10 October - Wednesday 3 November
2) Saturday 6 November - Sunday 14 November
This year, the City of Matsue is commemorating the 160th anniversary of his birth and the 120th anniversary of his arrival in Japan. Matsue is one of the cities Lafcadio loved most, hence his adoption of the name Koizumi Yakumo.
On this special occasion, an International Art Exhibition, rendering “Yakumo’s world and spirituality” will be held in Matsue Castle, and in the Koizumi Yakumo Memorial Museum, Matsue, Japan.
Venue:
1) Matsue Castle & Koizumi Yakumo Memorial Museum (Matsue, Shimane)
2) Karakoro Art Studio & Koizumi Yakumo Memorial Museum (Matsue, Shimane)
For more details: http://yakumokai.org/2170
Enquiries:
Shoko Koizumi (Ms.)
Director of the Lafcadio Hearn Society
 Tel: +81852272140
 Email: shoko_koizumi812@yahoo.co.jp
Takis Efstathiou (Mr.)
International Cultural Coordinator of the Lafcafdio Hearn Society
 Email: takisefstathiou@yahoo.com


MUSIC
Kitajima traditional night Vol.14 - Handdlion concert
Sunday 17 October, 14:30-16:30
The annual concert of traditional Irish music in Kitajima-cho, Tokushima Pref. This year's concert features Handdlion: Masumi Sakaue (Irish harp), Mana Okubo (Fiddle) and Yuka Fujino (Button accordion).
Venue: Kitajima-cho Public Library Sousei Hall (Tokushima Pref.)
For details & tickets, please contact: TEL 088-698-1100


LECTURE
Lecture Series on Celtic Culture
Every Saturday 16 October - 18 December
(10 lectures; 11:00-12:30)
Chuo University Crescent Academy (Open College) hosts a lecture series on Celtic culture. Topics include storytelling and poems. Lectures are Prof. Masatoshi Kimura, Prof. Keishin Kosuge and Prof. Ken'ichi Matsumura.
Venue: Chuo University, Surugadai Memorial Hall (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) (Access)
For more details, please see the website.
Enquiries and Applications:
Chuo University Crescent Academy Office
TEL 042-674-2267
(Applications will be accepted from end August until 15 October or until it is fully booked.)


MUSIC
Soka International Harp Festival 2010
October – Sunday 21 November
The annual harp festival in Soka City, Saitama Pref., including competition and concerts.
The main two concerts will be held at Soka City Culture Hall on Saturday 20 November and Sunday 21 November
For more details and ticket information, please contact:
Soka City Cultural Association at 048-931-9326


CONCERT
Celtic Christmas 2010
Saturday 11 December
This year's Celtic Christmas concert features Lúnasa (Ireland), LAU (Scotland) and Valravn (Denmark/Faroe Islands).
Venue: Sumida Triphony Hall (Sumida-ku, Tokyo)
For details & tickets, please contact: Plankton Co., Ltd. TEL 03-3498-2881
www.plankton.co.jp


For those of you who are interested in keeping up-to-date with what's happening at home, the Irish Times has launched a free online edition at www.irishtimes.com . The Irish Independent also has a free online edition of its paper at www.independent.ie.