Cosplay on the main stage
The Experience Japan Hanami Festival Day is organised every year in Ireland to celebrate Japanese culture. Hanami, the cherry blossom festival, takes place every year in Japan and is a custom to welcome spring.
The varied line-up of activities included taiko drum performances, Japanese and Irish fusions of music and dance, martial arts, origami creation, cosplay with traditional kimonos, information desks on textile dyeing, Japanese food stalls and seminars on Japanese culture.
Simon Harris, the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, said: “My office continues to work closely with the Experience Japan team, the Embassy of Japan and Dublin City Council.
“The iconic surroundings of Farmleigh provide a wonderful backdrop for what has become an annual event. I urge members of Dublin’s Japanese community and visitors to Farmleigh to join in the festivities.”
Around 28,000 people attended the festival despite the changeable weather in Phoenix Park, which at 707 hectares (1752 acres) is one of the largest enclosed recreational spaces within any European capital city. Last year’s Experience Japan festival had around 8,000 visitors.
The Embassy of Japan in Dublin’s stand was also manned by former participants on the JET Programme, along with JLGC, handing out information, which will next year celebrate its 30th anniversary. Around 1,100 JETs from the Republic of Ireland have taken part in the JET Programme over the last 29 years, making Irish JETs one of the main nationalities on the Programme, and per head of national population one of the leading participating countries for local authorities in Japan employing overseas graduates in language education and international links and promotion.
