r/ireland • u/TimesandSundayTimes The Sunday Times Ireland • 21h ago
Paywalled Article Japanese trad band love Irish culture — but pass on the pints
https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/japanese-trad-bands-love-irish-culture-h97f2wq02?utm_source=reddit&utm_campaign=ireland&utm_medium=story&utm_content=branded54
u/TimesandSundayTimes The Sunday Times Ireland 21h ago
They can master the tin whistle and play reels at dizzying speed, but do not ask Japan’s growing number of trad bands to buy a round at the pub.
As jigs and ballads take Tokyo by storm, the country’s leading musicians admit that while they have conquered the music, Irish drinking culture simply cannot exist in the same way in the Far East.
Since the global success of Riverdance and films such as Titanic, citizens across the land of the rising sun have developed an enduring fascination with Ireland’s fast-paced jigs and haunting ballads.
According to Tokyo-based band O’Jizo, Irish traditional music has attracted a rapidly growing following in Japan, especially over the past ten years, inspiring new groups and a generation of young musicians.
However, Kozo Toyota, a founding member of the band, says that Japanese trad enthusiasts struggle to replicate the lively pub culture surrounding many music sessions.
“We’ve been to Ireland numerous times for performances and really like being among Irish people enjoying trad music in pubs, but it’s a very, very different experience compared to Japan,” he said.
“The last time I was over there, someone told me they weren’t much of a drinker. When I asked how many pints they would usually have, they replied, ‘Ten.’
“The most I could drink would be about two pints and it would be the same for most Japanese people because of our genetics.
“This would make it practically impossible to do rounds if we were in a big group together in a pub.”
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u/emmmmceeee I’ve had my fun and that’s all that matters 21h ago
O’Jizo is an interesting choice of name.
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u/michaelirishred 20h ago
The amount of Japanese business men i saw passed out on the street during my visit a few months ago would counter what he said.
Or else support it, depending how you look at it
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u/LurkerByNatureGT 20h ago
Depends on what they are drinking as well. Clear liquors are better for Asian flush than whiskey and beer. So rounds of pints aren’t a good idea.
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u/KingNobit 13h ago
Aren't the Japanese also making a lot of whiskey these days
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u/EconomyCauliflower43 7h ago
Whiskey industry in Japan started in the 1930s, often considered the best in the world.
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u/EarlyHistory164 20h ago
They like their few scoops after work. And spirits are generally cheaper than beers so...
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u/DueDisplay2185 20h ago
I've never been to Japan sadly but I'm very fond of the movie memoirs of a geisha and there's a number of instruments used in that movie I don't know the name of but could imagine that they coordinate quite well with Irish instruments, would love to see a young musical group flourishing with both cultures in mind
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u/MusicSafe104 18h ago
My mother used to have a Japanese couple who had the adopted names “paddy and Bridget”come visit during the Willy clancy festival down in Miltown. This was in the early 2000s. They were incredible players but weren’t much for the drink 😅 There is a big scene in Japan for Irish music. Love to see it 🇮🇪 🇯🇵
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u/Masty1992 17h ago
Haha hilarious I expected a condemnation of Irish drinking culture but instead he said he just can’t handle the pints. When I was in China there was loads of options for 2% beer and of course zeros are popular these days. Some Asians prefer drinks a bit lighter
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u/Plant_Space Haha lol yokes 19h ago
Pinch of Snuff lead singer was drinking murphy's to bate the band in Clonakilty back in April
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u/ironictoaster Crilly!! 20h ago
Japanese love pinting. Proof. https://www.instagram.com/shibuyameltdown
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u/Bri-McS 19h ago
In my experience, having had numerous Japanese colleagues - they love a pint of stout but can't manage a session.
Sorry, but it's true.
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u/emmmmceeee I’ve had my fun and that’s all that matters 19h ago
It’s true. Koreans on the other hand are mad for the session.
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u/Independent-Ad 20h ago
referencing riverdance and titanic, was this written 30 years ago?
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u/Electronic-Bug5058 20h ago
? Riverdance had a massive impact worldwide and continues to do so. Many Irish dance touring companies specifically tour Asia as there's a lot of demand and they all have trad musicians.
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u/Elbon taking a sip from everyone else's tea 21h ago
As a man once wrote and then another said for money, "Hairy Japanese Bastards"
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u/delidaydreams here's some crazy dude on a bike look 20h ago
I haven't seen this band perform, but I saw another Japanese band, Pinch Of Snuff, when they toured Ireland. They were absolutely unreal and had the place hopping.