Ambassador Maruyama visits school in south Tipperary where the pupils are taught Japanese

From left, Cathal Nugent Tanaka, Siun Nugent Tanaka, Japanese Ambassador Maruyama, Denise Fleming, Principal and Keiko Tanaka Nugent, tutor, at Clerihan National School when the ambassador visited recently. Picture: John D Kelly

Clerihan National School, near Clonmel, was honoured recently to receive a visit from the Japanese Ambassador to Ireland, Norio Maruyama.

The ambassador was greeted by the Chairperson Seighin Ó Díomasaigh, Principal Denise Fleming and members of staff, Ann-Marie Murphy and Deirdre Healy. He was given a tour of the school, which was festooned in Japanese flags and origami.

From the Japanese embassy, in Dublin 4, Ambassador Maruyama heard about a primary school in south Tipperary that was teaching Japanese to 6th Class pupils.

Mr Luby’s 6th Class had taken part in the Say Yes to Languages programme in the school and their chosen language was Japanese.

The Say Yes to Languages sampler module introduces primary pupils to a new language by facilitating schools to introduce a modern foreign language or sign language.

The lessons were delivered over an eight-week block by local woman Keiko Tanaka Nugent.

Over the course of eight weeks the pupils learned about Japanese culture, traditions, the Japanese alphabet and its origins. They also cooked a Japanese curry and learned Japanese games, as well as greetings and Japanese phrases.

Above: Pupils of Clerihan National School, a few miles from Clonmel, gave the Japanese Ambassador Norio Maruyama a great welcome when he visited the school recently. Picture: John D Kelly

Ambassador Maruyama spoke to the class about how anime (Japanese animation) and manga (Japanese comic books and graphic novels) are derived from folklore and literature and that Irish folklore is being used in current anime projects.

Ambassador Murayama then toured the school’s sensory garden, before being entertained by the school choir in the school hall.

He was greeted by a hall-full of excited children waving the Japanese flags that they had all made in class, in anticipation of this important visit.

The Ambassador was presented with a framed Irish blessing – “Go n’éirí an bothar leat” - and a pot of Tipperary honey, to mark his visit to the valley of the honey.

This type of visit was a first for the school. It was a very successful visit and a proud day for Clerihan National School.