{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/b2fb5f0b-0ce7-4e5c-b6e0-9b1febd06aea/68668cd39ae12c23de2bde99?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"How Japan fell in love with Irish culture ","description":"<p>Taoiseach <a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/tags/micheal-martin/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Micheál Martin</a> wraps up his four-day <a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2025/06/30/taoiseach-embarks-on-four-day-visit-to-japan-with-focus-on-investment/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">visit</a> to Japan today with a visit to Hiroshima where he will lay a wreath at the cenotaph commemorating those who died after the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city in 1945.</p><p><br></p><p>It’s been a hectic few days with an itinerary that included the opening of Ireland House in Tokyo, which at more than €20 million is the largest capital project overseas since the foundation of the State, as well as a visit to Osaka to visit the Irish pavilion at Expo 2025, an international exposition that is expected to attract more than 28 million people.</p><p><br></p><p>Irish Times Beijing-based correspondent Denis Staunton explains why this visit is so timely and why it has focused on an economic relationship that has doubled in size over the past decade.</p><p><br></p><p>He also explains the deep interest in Irish <a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025/07/03/go-to-any-reasonably-sized-town-in-japan-and-youll-find-an-irish-pub-the-japanese-fans-of-irish-culture/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">culture</a> that has been building in Japan, from the development of Irish pubs to the thriving branch of Comhaltas.</p><p><br></p><p>Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.</p>","author_name":"The Irish Times"}