Mission

The Ireland Fund of Japan is an organisation dedicated to the raising of funds in support of programs in arts and culture, as well as education and community development for the people of Ireland and for the many friends we have established in Japan. We raise funds in respect of those objectives and it's important that we demonstrate responsibility and purpose in how we distribute funds raised.

Some of our work is outlined below, all of which can only take place with the essential funds, generated primarily from The Tokyo Emerald Ball, the premier Irish social event of the year in Japan.  Volunteers of many nationalities organize this prestigious event, which enjoys the support of hundreds of people annually. Every attendee is essentially a sponsor and so helps The Ireland Fund of Japan achieve the undertakings outlined below. Corporate support is also greatly appreciated and is a key element of the fund raising exercise.

Projects

-Education-

The Ireland Fund of Japan has been delighted to act as a major sponsor of an exchange programme between Sendai Ikuei Gaguen High School and Holy Family Secondary School in Newbridge. This relationship dates back to 2006, with each visit from Ireland involving over twenty students and their teachers visiting Sendai. Students stay with Japanese families, attend language classes and participate in a variety of educational and cultural activities.  In return, a similar number of Japanese students and teachers visit Newbridge in a mutually benefical arrangement. 

The Ireland Fund knows that this educational exchange will have far reaching influence on the students involved.  As of 2009, many of our sponsored students have expressed a clear intent to follow through to third level studies and a potential future career in Ireland or Japan.

 -Community-

The Ireland Fund recongises its community responsibility in Japan, and we support the Jesuit Order in Osaka in supporting homeless people there.

We have also traditionally supported the St. Patrick's Day parades held here in Japan. Ireland is uniquely priviledged in this respect as no other country can close off the main thoroughfare in major cities and stamp its culture and personality on those cities for a moment in time. In 2009, we will celebrate nine parades in the major cities of Japan. (Images courtesy of the INJ)

The Ireland Funds (Offsite Link)