INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF JAPAN

 My accommodation in Tokyo was the glorious International House of Japan in Roppongi which provided a spacious room with large desk, shelves, Wifi. and Japanese screens opening to a balcony. Perfect for working. Breakfast was enjoyed overlooking a Zen Garden in which I could walk day or night. And the tea lounge and lobby were used to hold meetings and interviews. It was also within minutes of a walk to a Metro subway, Shinto shrine, vast bookstore, cafes, shopping plaza, Asahi TV ... #Japan #writingcommunity #speakingtour 

THE MAGIC OF JAPAN

Whether it's the landscape or the people, Japan is truly magical. Met a Faerie king at one of my readings - Itabashi Library in Tokyo.Tadgh (stage name @bardoffairyhill on TwitterX) is a Celtic storyteller, speaks Irish, plays the lyre and has visited Ireland several times. As for Fujisan (the sacred mountain of Fuji) it is a dream to see, an aisling vision. #Ireland #Japan #IrelandinJapan #writingcommunity

JAPAN MAY 2024

 

Hit the ground running in Japan. Left Ireland May 1st in the morning and arrived in Tokyo May 2nd in the evening. Shinjuku-Goen National Gardens, Meiji Shrine and Omoide Yokocho ("Piss Alley") with pals first met in Outer Mongolia, taste of Shibuya with Irish poet, professor & haikuist Andrew FitzSimons, thrilling 4-hour deep dive into Kabuki and 2-hour spiritual experience with Noh, train to Yamanashi Prefectural Library in Kofu to see exhibition of Nishina Sachiko, one of my readers who grew up to be an artist. The library featured both our books. Lunch and visit to Yumeya "Dream Bookstore". #Japan #writingcommunity

TALK AT WASEDA UNVERSITY, JAPAN, MAY 2024

 We're drawing near to my speaking and research tour of Japan. Getting very excited. This is the latest flyer promoting my talk (front and back). Waseda is the university from which Haruki Murakami - one of my favourite authors  - graduated, and many of his characters also. #Japan #writingcommunity #cultureireann #cultureireland

  

TALK AT MEIJI UNIVERSITY, JAPAN

 

Flyer announcing my talk at Meiji 

University, May 14, 2024. It's 

getting nearer! Dashing about with 

last-minute preparations. I'll be doing 

some research as well as my talks on 

haiku, haibun and Kabuki Theatre. 

#Ireland #Japan #speakingtour

SPEAKING TOUR JAPAN, MAY 2024

It's getting nearer! My presentation is all green and gold, how Irish can ye get. The maps in my Japanese translations are, of course, in Japanese script and there will some in my text slides also: 日々旅にして、旅を栖とす "their journey is life, their journey is home" (Matsuo Basho, Oku no Hosomichi). Also some Irish: Is an turas i n-ailithre é an saol "life is a journey through a foreign land" (ancient Irish poem). And I'll be blathering away in three languages. #nihongo #gaeilge #Japan #Ireland  

  

JAPANESE SPEAKING TOUR, MAY 2024

Flyer for my talk at the University of the Sacred Heart, Tokyo. I'll be giving a PowerPoint presentation with lovely images of Ireland and some of Canada too! The 7 editions translated into Japanese by Kodansha Publishers are The Druid's Tune, The Singing Stone and the 4 books of The Chronicles of Faerie series - The Hunter's Moon, The Summer King, The Light-Bearer's Daughter and The Book of Dreams (in 2 volumes). My books include Irish, Canadian and American characters and are set chiefly in Ireland but with Canadian mythology and magic highlighted in The Book of Dreams. I'll be in Japan to give talks but I'll also be doing research on haiku and haibun and the use of creative technology in Kabuki theatre. As I'm there a whole month, I'll do a spot of travelling and sight-seeing as well, lucky me! Working away on learning Japanese. The 3 scripts are difficult - hiragana, katakana and kanji - but otherwise I'd say it's easier than Irish. #Japanese #Japan #Ireland #Canada #nihongo *Supported by Cultúr Eireann/Culture Ireland*