My look on the Inexperienced Eire Pageant in Yoyogi Park two years in the past actually sparked my curiosity for going to a couple extra comparable celebrations in Tokyo that 12 months. The Irish competition was the primary I had been to in lots of, a few years and I had a extremely nice time so was eager to return however with the addition of additionally taking within the lengthy operating St. Patrick’s Day parade happening close by.
This parade has been a fixture on the Japanese calendar for so long as I can keep in mind however for numerous causes, I had simply by no means attended it till final Sunday (fifteenth March).
I’ve been fairly dismissive of St. Paddy’s Day up to now, significantly with regard to the consuming side. These feedback had been at all times pretty tongue-in-cheek however I form of stand by them. I simply by no means discovered any purpose to have fun the day again then, however I’ve very a lot softened my stance on all of it in recent times due partially to my spouse having lots of love for the nation as she did a homestay in Cork when she was a pupil. In addition to, you’re really allowed to alter your thoughts about issues!
The parade started at 1:00 pm on the boulevard of trendy shops between Meiji-jingumae and Omotesando Metro stations with spectators lining the road as they went down one facet after which again up the opposite which means everybody would finally get to see the 1000+ contributors.
This annual cultural celebration of Eire’s nationwide day has an extended historical past relationship again to 1992 in Roppongi earlier than transferring to its current location in Omotesando.
It reportedly attracts round 30,000 spectators eager to see the marching bands, musicians, dancers, dressed-up canines, Irish community neighborhood group members and an enormous pint of Guiness!!
Earlier than all of that we had spent a while in Yoyogi Park on the ‘Inexperienced Eire Pageant‘ which was the tenth anniversary of this occasion celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. It was beforehand often known as the ‘I Love Eire Pageant’ however modified title a few years in the past. I wished to return final 12 months however sadly it was a little bit of a washout on the day I used to be free to go however there was no such misfortune this time because it was an attractive, sunny day.
I can by no means resist such photograph opps! #CulturalAppropriation
At dwelling earlier that morning we had listened to some Irish artists just like the Cranberries, U2, B*witched, the Corrs and Sinead O’Connor to get us pumped for our go to to the park, and reside conventional Irish music was naturally a staple of the day. Watching and listening to Stringers carry out on the principle Inexperienced Stage for a couple of tunes was actually satisfying.
Alcohol is a significant a part of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations for many however as neither my spouse nor I drink we’ve to get our kicks from the meals.
First up was a so-called massive portion of fish and chips from the Malin’s truck (a spot we visited in Roppongi eight years in the past) which was very tasty however may’ve achieved with a couple of extra chips on the facet! The opposite dish we sampled was Irish sausages which had been actually good albeit somewhat costly at 800 yen for 2. That’s competition costs for you although!
In contrast to two years in the past (I’m undecided about final 12 months!) the competition was held within the occasion area on the outskirts of Yoyogi Park versus close to the principle entrance. That location appeared much better for engaging the extra informal park goers unaware of the competition beforehand however was too small an space to host all of the guests.
Certainly, it took me some time to get adjusted to the extra concrete-like setting however I did finally and loved introducing our canine to a leprechaun and cat mascot. I’m undecided if he was too amused by all of it as he actually doesn’t like animated characters or mascots and infrequently growls on the television display once they’re on.
Some Tokyo-based British and Irish bars had stalls promoting the likes of Guiness, whiskey and beer with the latter out there in a inexperienced color at a few of them.
There have been additionally another cubicles promoting merchandise or selling Irish tradition together with Gaelic soccer which had some mini try-out classes all through the weekend. I by no means received to see it myself however presumably there was additionally some form of Riverdance efficiency which I might’ve favored to see as again within the day I used to be really fairly mesmerized by Michael Flatley and Jean Butler dancing to Invoice Whelan’s unimaginable music at Eurovision ’94.
At lunchtime I headed off and see the aforementioned parade earlier than transferring on to Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium later that afternoon. Consequently, solely I noticed the parade (the thirty first of its form I feel!) as my spouse had had sufficient and wished to take the canine dwelling. Watching the parade has lengthy been overdue however now I can lastly say that I’ve seen it, and I want to accomplish that once more or possibly even participate in it!
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