Tokyo's Irish fans parade for St. Patrick's Day

For a city with far more Sakamotos than O'Sullivans, Japan's capital still manages to go all out to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

Although many Japanese know little about Ireland - some even confuse it with chilly Iceland - the small European nation has nonetheless attracted a band of die-hard fans halfway around the globe.



Again this year thousands of Tokyoites took the streets on Sunday to watch what may be the world's most unlikely St. Patrick's Day parade.

Dressed in green clothing and sporting shamrocks painted on their faces, many of the onlookers appeared unfazed by the fact that they weren't Irish, or that the parade was held a day after the Irish national holiday.

While the parade may not have been on St. Patrick's Day - organisers said they wanted to stick with tradition and hold it on a Sunday.