TOWN UNITES AT AN EMOTIONAL VIGIL FOR YOSUKE SASAKI
THE family of Yosuke Sasaki, the young Japanese man whose violent death touched the hearts of those in his adopted hometown, sent a message to the people of Dundalk telling them how he loved the town.
’ When he was alive, our son spoke about the warmth of the people of this town and his love of Dundalk.’
The people of the town demonstrated that warmth when they gathered on a cold January night to pay their condolences to the 24 year old man who had been fatally stabbed while walking home from work the previously week.
In the statement issued through the Japanese embassy, the Sasaki family recalled how their son ‘ came to Ireland initially as a language student and only intended a short stay. However, he was touched by the kindness of the Irish people and he decided to work here.
‘As a family, we are truly saddened by what has happened, but we hope that this incident will not give Japanese people a bad impression of Ireland.
The Sasaki family also expressed their ‘ heartfelt thanks’ to the ambulance personnel, the Gardaí, National Pen Limited, Mr. Oliver Morgan who set up the GoFundMe page, the staff of the Embassy of Japan, and the members of Louth County Council who organised the candlelight vigil.
They expressed the hope that ‘a tragic event like this one will never happen in this country again.’
Their dignified words were read by Cllr John McGahon, chairperson of Dundalk Municipal District who noted that the vigil had been held to show Dundalk’s unity with Yosuke, his family and friends and the people of Japan.
‘Dundalk,’ he said, ‘ has a very thriving and vibrant multicultural community and it’s something we are very proud of. It’s a community Yosuke decide to come to join, to live in, to work, to enjoy and that’s what makes this tragedy al the more heart-breaking.’
He hoped that the gathering would be ‘a source of comfort and light to Yosuke’s family and community griefing in his home town.’
Cllr McGahon said thoughts were also with two men injured in the attacks, Dylan Grehan and Cian Murphy, who were recovering from their ordeal.
He also praised the work of the gardai and their ‘ heroic actions’ the previous week.
The vigil was attended by Japanese Ambassador, Her Excellency Mrs Mari Miyoshi, First Secretary Mr Sou Watanabe and Mr Tim Mawe, Asia Director at the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the gathering heard that The Embassy of Japan extended its ‘sincere gratitude to the members of the Irish public who have sent us messages expressing their condolences’.
The gathering sent out a message to the people of Yosuke’s home town that they were not griving alone, said Rev Mark O’Hagan, Adm St Patrick’s. He revealed that Archbishop Eamonn Martin had visited the site on the Avenue Road where Yosuke’s life had been cut short, after celebrating Mass in St Patrick’s in remeberance of the young Japanese man the previous Saturday evening.
Iman Noon said Dundalk’s Muslim community sent their condolences to the people of Japan, especially Yosuke’s family and workmates.
‘ The community of Dundalk, all different classes, creeds and common humanity are sharing in the shock, hurt and grief of Yosuke’s passing,’ said Rev Capt Geoffrey Walmsley, Church of Ireland,
Tears flowed as a friend of the deceased Choon Mon Lee played a piece of Japanese music on the piano, accompanied by Heather Oakes on violin.
A colleague from National Pen. Fabio Tereinto recited a poem entitled ‘ They say there is no reason’, while Lyndsey O’Neill sang John Lennon’s Imagine.
As the vigil ended, Cllr McGahon spoke of how proud he was of Dundalk and how people had come together to show their sympathy.
Among the estimated 1,500 who attended the vigil were many of Yosuke’s colleagues from National Pen.
Shoko Fujiki said that while she didn’t know the deceased very well as she worked in a different area, his colleagues were all very sad, all very depressed’ at his tragic death.
She said she has been living in Dundalk for four months and had found the people to be ‘very welcoming and warm.’