The Department of Foreign Affairs spent more than €1.3 million fitting out a new embassy in Tokyo, including €43,000 on a tapestry and €1,100 on umbrella stands.
The new Ireland House in Japan was officially opened by the Taoiseach this summer, with total costs coming in at about €35 million, reports Breaking News.
Fresh figures show €1.35 million was spent on furnishings, ranging from six-figure furniture contracts to €95 hardware purchases and orders placed through Amazon Japan.
A substantial share of the spending went on artwork, with €110,000 worth of items purchased from the RINN exhibition as part of Ireland’s presence at Expo 2025 in Osaka, reports Breaking News.
Separately, a €10,782 deposit was paid for a specially commissioned tapestry by artist Isabel Nolan, with the department stating the final cost amounted to €43,130.
Another commissioned painting by Sophie Gough for the new Ireland House cost roughly €8,400, while transporting artwork from the former embassy building in Tokyo cost close to €6,800, reports Breaking News.
There were three separate payments to MJ Flood Interiors for the supply of furniture and equipment, including delivery and installation.
The first invoice totalled €516,600 and the second came to €566,000, according to documents released under Freedom of Information legislation, reports Breaking News.
A further €31,500 was paid to the company, bringing the overall value of the contract to approximately €1.11 million.
The purchase of various soft furnishings amounted to €2,463, while €605 was spent on bins and other miscellaneous items, reports Breaking News.
A dryer cost €539 and €550 was spent on two gripped floor mats. Other listed expenses included €12,242 for white goods and €4,951 for pots and pans.
Another invoice totalling €3,034 covered three coffee machines, four microwaves, three large refrigerators and four smaller fridges, reports Breaking News.
There was spending of just under €6,000 on bins and umbrella stands in shared areas, along with €450 for tablecloths and napkins.
The fit-out costs formed part of approximately €35.2 million spent on developing the new Ireland House in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district, reports Breaking News.
The site itself was acquired for €7.74 million under a special arrangement with the Japanese government.
When legal fees, due diligence and archaeological costs were added, that figure rose to €8.54 million, reports Breaking News.
The design and construction of the landmark embassy, residence and office complex has cost around €26.7 million, with some invoices still outstanding.
Asked about the project, a Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman said: “Ireland House in Tokyo will contribute substantially to raising Ireland’s profile in Japan and represents a significant commitment by Ireland.
“[The department] uses art to showcase Ireland, highlight links and engagement with the host country, draw out similarities between our countries, highlight Irish artistic culture, and facilitate positive engagement with visitors to Ireland House.
“Under the 1% for Art scheme, the Department allocated an amount of money within the project budget for the purchase of Irish Art for Ireland House Tokyo”, reports Breaking News.
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