connect 2017 • 102 March, 2017 The 24th Emerald Ball Tokyo was held at the Tokyo American Club with over 270 guests enjoying the evening. This year’s Emerald Ball Tokyo showcased Ciaran Somers band Suantrai, the Ardagh School of Irish Dance, an Irish Ceili dancing led by Tomato Shirasawa TCRG and a bodhrán which resounded through Tokyo. At the sold-out event, VIP guests included Her Excellency Ambassador Anne Barrington, Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado, Irish Minister Paschal Donohoe, two Miss Worlds, Irish designer Paul Costelloe and Japanese star rugby player Akihito Yamada. The 2017 Emerald Ball was chosen to be a commemorative event of the 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Japan. It was a tremendous occasion for Irish and Japanese to come together and celebrate this connection while also raising funds for worthy causes that support the Ireland-Japan relationship. The night was tangible evidence of a vibrant Irish community in Japan. The Emerald Ball Tokyo 1 4 7 2 5 8 3 6 1 Fr. Donal Doyle, Dr. Harry Sweeney, Matthew Connolly, Ed Milano, Princess Takamado, Amb. Anne Barrington, Min. Paschal Donohoe, John Fallon 2 Paul Costelloe, Amb. Anne Barrington, Susan Lawlor, Pedro Ao 3 John Fallon, Niamh Kennedy, Brian Ashenfelder, Priyanka Yoshikawa, Gerard Mulligan 4 Akihito Yamada (center) and guests 5 Takao & Yoko Endo, Takami & Kosaburo Morinaka 6 Pip & Chris Hope 7 Chris & Junko Schwenk, Matthew Connolly, Princess Takamado, Christina & Paul Timmons 8 Fr. Donal Doyle, Princess Takamado, Amb. Anne Barrington AROUND THE WORLD JAPAN