Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Lá féile Pádraig shona daoibh! (can't remember if sona takes a séimhiu here)

I've just seen an Irish ai site translate Happy St. Patrick's Day as "Nollaig Shona" which means Happy Christmas. don't trust the ai's folks!

I like that our nationhood festival isn't a military thing and is celebrated around the world by people with no particular Irish connections. I'll forgive them the stupid hats and US ! flag.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=faTas3wjWho

St. Patrick's Day Parade 2026 in Motomachi, Yokohama - Japan

YouTube

Although I'm sure protocol of an Irish parade in Japan the Irish flag shouldn't be on the highest flagstaff in the center. On equal flagpoles the place of honour is on viewer's left (marching right) Japan in this case.

I refer the organizers to section 6 of The National Flag (substituting Japan for Ireland)
https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/9d76c655/The_National_Flag_-_Guidelines_September_2025.pdf

I'm sure Japan has equivalent protocols

and again what's up with the US flag? at least it's not the Union Jack. (Union Flag, I know)

Flags can be problematic in parts of Ireland

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o8JqKxrloQQ

The Blame Game: Flegs

YouTube