About Us

History of the IJA

The Ireland Japan Association (IJA) was founded in 1990 by the amalgamation of two predecessor organizations, The Ireland Japan Society and The Ireland Japan Economic Association. The IJS started out as a cultural organization in 1969, and the IJEA was founded in 1974 as a business organization aimed at providing networking and business opportunities for those interested in working between both countries.

IJA Objectives

The objectives of the IJA are to promote greater economic and business ties between Ireland and Japan and to foster mutual understanding between the peoples of both countries and, in particular, to encourage and assist in improving the knowledge of the culture of each country within the other.

Members

The members are either individuals or companies and the patron of the IJA is the Ambassador of Japan to Ireland. The profile of membership consists of about half corporate and the other half individual Japanese living in Ireland or Irish people with an interest in Japan.

Council

The Association is run by a voluntary of fourteen people, representative of the corporate and individual membership and is elected at an Annual General Meeting held in March. The Council meets nine times a year.

Administration

A permanent secretariat is provided by the Irish Exporters Association, 28 Merrion Square, Dublin 2, who are responsible for the administrative and financial functions of the IJA. The accounts are audited annually and presented to the members at the Annual General Meeting, held in March every year.