While Japan and Ireland may view each other as fierce rivals at the Rugby World Cup when they face off in Shizuoka Prefecture in September, Ireland sees the sporting event and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as opportunities to expand contacts — a prelude to further efforts to strengthen bilateral ties that are expected to grow in importance if the U.K. leaves the European Union.
Ireland is pinning its hopes of strengthening the bilateral relationship on a chance to offer Japan a stable and secure platform for trade and investment within the EU, Paul Kavanagh, Ireland's ambassador to Japan, said Friday.
"We see opportunity post-Brexit for Irish relations with Japan," Kavanagh said during a courtesy visit to The Japan Times' head office.