Esteemed members of the Ireland-Japan business community came together at the Ireland Japan Business Awards 2022 in the luxurious Conrad Tokyo Friday, 9th December.

Each year the Ireland Japan Chamber of Commerce (IJCC) have the honour of celebrating key companies and individuals for their outstanding contributions to Ireland-Japan business relations. This year's ceremony took place in-person after a 3-year hiatus, and we were absolutely delighted to see the Ireland-Japan business community come together again in celebration after being apart.

The Company of the Year award was one of three awards presented the evening of. We recognize the Company of the Year for significant milestones in their company history, new product launches or any other remarkable contribution to Ireland Japan business relations. 

On behalf of the Chamber, we are very happy to announce that the 2022 Ireland Japan Business Awards Company of the Year is jointly awarded to ONODA Inc. and Rathbornes 1488.

ONODA Inc. and Rathbornes 1488 have successfully introduced high-quality Irish designed and produced products to the Japanese market. Their partnership represents some of the best of Irish and Japanese collaboration and business.

Company of the Year

ONODA Inc. (https://onoda-inc.jp/en/) and Rathbornes 1488 (https://www.rathbornes1488.com/)

Mr. Iki Motoharu, General Manager, Wholesale Business Department, Domestic Business Division of ONODA Inc, delivered an acceptance speech on behalf of CEO Mr. Shigeyoshi Onoda and Director Mr. Hiroaki Akiyama.

Mr. Iki Motoharu, pictured with Neil Cooney, Head of Enterprise Ireland Japan, Ambassador of Ireland to Japan, H.E. Damien Cole and Yoshihiro Tsuchiya, IJCC President with the EI Exporter of the Year award the evening of the ceremony.

Comment by ONODA Inc:

“It is a great honour and at the same time a humbling experience to receive such a prestigious award. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our business partners, the companies that have supported us and, by extension, Tsuchiya and everyone else who has given us such tremendous support. I am filled with gratitude.

Our company will be celebrating our 20th anniversary of its founding next year. RATHBORNES, however, is 500 years old. The company was founded in 1488. It will soon be five years since RATHBORNES products were launched in Japan. The Irish peoples’ open friendliness has always been a great help to us in many different situations. I am always saved by their friendly Irish character.

Although the recent economic and global situation is often described as a headwind, we see the pinch as an opportunity and aim to expand our business more globally than ever before. Above all, we will continue to build a stronger bridge between Ireland and Japan and make further contributions.

We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for jointly awarding this prestigious award to our company and RATHBORNES.

We look forward to your continued guidance and encouragement in the future.

Thank you very much for your support.”

A very warm Comhghairdeas again to all the recipients: the Founders of ElectroRoute, Benetel Ltd, ONODA Inc. and Rathbornes 1488.

Thank you to everyone who attended the event and for your kind support of our Chamber this year. We are honoured to have the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the Ireland-Japan community with you, together this year. We know with our close friendship, both Ireland and Japan will only go from strength to strength in 2023 and beyond.

Go raibh míle maith agat!