Going Green for St. Patrick’s Day

March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day, an event that much like Halloween, has cast off its traditional associations and spread around the world as an excuse to dress up and party.

Traditionally it’s a celebration of the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick, lauded for bringing Christianity to the country. Nowadays though, it is a free-for-all festival of all things Irish and a chance to enjoy the craic, regardless of religious persuasion or cultural heritage. Unsurprisingly Japan, a country that doesn’t need much encouragement to dress up on any day of the week, has embraced the event and it is ever-present on the Japanese annual event calendar.

Kansai Scene will have its own St.Patrick’s Day party on Saturday March 21st in Namba and invites you all to dress up and join in the fun. But what to wear? Here are some great cheap-and-easy tips for going green on the day.

The Leprechaun Look

Going for the leprechaun look requires a little investment and effort, but it’s the go-to outfit for St. Patrick’s Day revellers. A big green hat, a green waistcoat, and a bushy ginger beard are the main requirements. Most things can be made if you are feeling creative or bought online. 100-yen stores are a fantastic place to start your search.

Team Ireland

Irish rugby and football shirts, green t-shirts, jackets, ties, sparkly green hot pants and leggings, or any items of clothing incorporating the green, white, and orange colors of the Republic of Ireland flag will do. Grab a cheap, simple, green tee from somewhere like Uniqlo and paint on a cheeky phrase or two in white.

Accessorise Me

Green and orange wigs, sunglasses, earrings, glow-in-the-dark novelty headbands, you name it. Decorate yourself with whatever you can find.

Make up and face paint

This is the simplest way to join in the fun. Get some green face paint and decorate your cheeks in shamrock motifs or just go the whole hog and cover your face in a green, white, and orange striped pattern, in full football-fan style. Bright-green eye shadow and green or orange lipstick are also a simple way to complete the look.

There is a ¥500 discount for anyone wearing green or showing up in full fancy-dress (Nipponbashi street festival cosplay outfits welcome! Green or not.), so your efforts will be rewarded. You never know, you may land the luck of the Irish and bag the first prize in our lucky draw of a stay for two at the Swissôtel!

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Kansai Scene International Party: St. Patrick’s Special
Entry: ¥3,000 • Discount: ¥2,500*
*In costume (or wearing something green)
Includes 2 drinks + lucky draw ticket + snacks (nuts/spicy potato wedges)

Where: Nambar 10 Sports + Beers
Swissôtel Nankai Osaka 10F
Osaka-shi, Chuo-ku, Namba 5-1-60

Full event details here:
Kansai Scene Facebook Page
Kansai Scene Meetup Page
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