13 Mar 2025
Ambassador Shimada Junji has had an illustrious career in the Japanese Foreign Ministry
Ambassador Shimada Junji had a busy first official day as Japan’s new Ambassador to Ireland.
Logan was especially cheerful in welcoming Ambassador Shimada to Dublin at what was his first major official event, following the formal procedures of becoming the recognised Ambassador to Ireland.
Mark Logan, a dual British-Irish national, has worked with the Irish government in the past to help further ties with East Asia through bodies such as the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) and Enterprise Ireland.
The Ireland Japan Chamber of Commerce (IJCC), along with the France Ireland Chamber of Commerce, co-hosted an event entitled “The Irish Diaspora: Untapped Potential for Business Growth.” Former Irish Ambassador to Japan, John Neary, spoke at the event, along with Kingsley Aikins and the French Ambassador to Ireland, Céline Place.
Dominic Keogh from the IJCC was the main driving force behind bringing a packed hall of people together to discuss Ireland’s overseas network of commercially savvy people. Members of the IJCC worked tireless to make the event a success.
Ambassador Shimada was on the panel and has previously relayed, through other channels, that:
“There are various events linked to the relationship between Japan and Ireland planned for 2025. For example, Ireland House will open in Tokyo this spring, and Ireland will also have a pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, which starts in April. In June, Expo 2025 Osaka will hold an Irish National Day, and from the second half of the year, NHK will broadcast a new morning drama series called ‘Bakebake,’ telling the story of Koizumi Yakumo (Lafcadio Hearn), known for his deep ties to Ireland, and his wife.”
Ambassador Shimada most recently served as Consul General to Melbourne, and his illustrious career has included roles in Washington DC, Indonesia, China, and the Intelligence and Analysis Service (IAS).