David Dolan reports from Tokyo that while “it’s a long way to Tipperary from Japan’s sprawling capital, that doesn’t stop thousands of Tokyoites from donning green and flocking every year to what might be the world’s most unlikely St. Patrick’s Day parade. Although most Japanese know little about Ireland — some even confuse it with chilly Iceland — the small European nation has attracted a band of die-hard fans halfway around the globe. More on how Japan celebrates St. Patrick’s Day (and other aspects of Irish culture) here.”

Roughly 1,000 people are scheduled to take part in the Tokyo parade this Sunday. The event drew a crowd of 30,000 onlookers in 2005, and organizers say they expect a bigger turnout this year, the 15th anniversary.

The melancholy song “Danny Boy” has long been a karaoke staple in Japan, and traditional Irish music is now commonly used as background music in television programs and ads. Unexpected cultural similarities might be one reason some Japanese are drawn to Ireland, said Kishi of the Irish Network Japan. Like the Japanese, the Irish are more indirect in speech and manner than citizens of other English-speaking countries.

“Somehow, I felt comfortable in Ireland,” said 38-year-old Kishi, who plays the traditional sport of Gaelic football and dreams of painting Ireland’s scenic West.

“Ireland is an island surrounded by the sea. In that sense maybe it’s similar to Japan — although Irish people don’t eat as much fish.”