On December 3, 2015, President Miyata received a courtesy call by the Irish Ambassador Ms. Anne Barrington, accompanied by the embassy’s Press and Cultural Attaché, Ms. Aisling Braiden.

During the meeting, Ambassador Barrington, who took up her position in September 2014, talked about how her team is now working to promote further understandings of Ireland in Japan through culture and art, as we approach the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2017.

President Miyata mentioned that he had taught an exchange student from Ireland many years ago in the metal hammering course, and that he was glad that the student had brought his experience here back to his country and contributed to introducing techniques of the Japanese traditional craft not only to Ireland but also to Europe as well.

Prof. Osumi, who was also present at the meeting, added that Irish music was a popular topic among students in the Musicology Department, pointing out that eleven students had so far written a thesis or research paper on the topic since 1999.

The meeting was later joined by four members of the university’s Celtic Music Study Group, who gave a welcome performance in front of the guests.

Ambassador Barrington responded by saying that music is an international language and that it is a wonderful thing that Japan and Ireland are connected through music.

To conclude the meeting, President Miyata stated his hope that this would be the first step to developing ties between the two countries, to which Ambassador Barrington agreed with a smile.
Ambassador Barrington exchanging a handshake with President Miyata before leaving the campus