On the 21st of December, the IJCC hosted our annual Bonenkai Third Thursday networking event at IJCC Corporate member An Sólás Irish pub in Yoyogi. It was the perfect setting to come together, reflect on the year gone by, and celebrate the festive season with our members, friends, and new faces from the Ireland-Japan community.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us, especially during this busy holiday season. It was fantastic to connect in person and share the holiday cheer as we look forward to another exciting year of IJCC events.

Midway through the evening, IJCC Vice President Aisling Barry welcomed everyone with a few words. She and IJCC Director Harumi Kanaya then drew the winners for the evening’s meishi draw.  A big thank you to The Busker for their generous donation of prizes, including bottles of The Busker Irish Whiskey, which were won by lucky attendees in the draw. The festive atmosphere was further heightened by the fantastic prizes, and we’re grateful to The Busker for their continued support!

We were also delighted to have our friends from the newly established Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce in Japan (UCCJ), including UCCJ Chairperson Yavorska Kateryna and UCCJ Board representatives. Their presence added an extra layer of international spirit to the event, and we truly appreciated the camaraderie shared across the different Chambers.

As this event marked our Bonenkai, it was a wonderful chance to look back on the past year, reconnect with colleagues and friends, and get excited about the opportunities ahead in 2025. We were thrilled to see so many familiar faces and meet new ones, and we hope everyone enjoyed the evening as much as we did.

We look forward to seeing you all at our upcoming events in the new year.