by Anton Lutter
The birthday of Emperor Naruhito, who ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne in 2019, was celebrated on February 23rd at the residence of Ambassador Hiroshi Minami, who has a distinctive career in Japan’s Foreign Service and had been appointed to The Netherlands since December 2022.
In his speech the Ambassador reiterated the importance of the multifaceted bilateral relations between Japan and the Netherlands: “Thanks to the rich and longstanding cultural exchange for centuries, many Dutch people are involved in traditional Japanese cultural activities such as Ikebana, tea ceremony, martial arts and so on”. 2025 marks the 425th anniversary of the bilateral relationship between both countries, including a longstanding history of mutual trade, again Ambassador Minami: “In this respect, I look forward to the upcoming high-level trade mission on high-tech and digital technology, led by Mr. Dirk Beljaarts, Minister of Economic Affairs, visiting Japan in May. I am sure that this mission will have a lot of positive impact on high-tech businesses in both countries. On that occasion, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander will pay a visit to Japan, and I believe that it will enhance the gravity and dignity of our relationship”.
Between March 1942 and September 1945 Japan occupied the Netherlands-Indies (nowadays: Indonesia) and this year commemorates also the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. An important moment also for Japan: “After 80 years, there are still people who suffer from the experiences and memories of the past. Last year, a Japanese group of atomic bomb survivors, Hidan-kyo, was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize, which brought great joy to the Japanese people. But I believe that one important message of this award is that the Japanese people should never forget the past. It is with this solemn reminder that Japan should engage in the efforts for reconciliation with the Dutch people”. Japan is important to NATO – who will hold their 2025 Summit in The Hague in June – as former Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated in 2023 mentioning that “no other nation is closer to NATO then Japan”. Since January 2025 Japan appointed an ambassador to NATO in Brussels, becoming the first among NATO’s Indo Pacific partners to do so. Ambassador Minami’s speech also included the importance of Defense cooperation between The Netherlands and Japan: “We are pleased that the mutual high-level visits of our armed forces were successful, and that the Netherlands dispatches a naval frigate to the Indo-Pacific region, including Japan, every two years. Security in Asia and security in Europe are inseparable…”. Japans involvement in the rule of law was also emphasized by the Ambassador: “We believe in the importance of the rule of law as a fundamental value of the international society. In this regard, we are very concerned about the future of the ICC. Today the ICC finds itself under the threats of sanctions and arrest warrants from some states, and these threats may undermine the impartiality and independence of the ICC, a court entrusted with providing access to justice for victims of the most heinous crimes. Japan is determined to protect and cooperate further with the ICC, and we remain committed to working together with the other States Parties to this end”.
Next to members of the Diplomatic Corps, guests included the Vice-President of the State Council Mr. Thom de Graaf, the president of First Chamber of States-General Prof. Dr. Jan Anthonie Bruijn, Mr. Laurens Jan Brinkhorst, former Minister of Economic Affairs and one time Ambassador of the European Union to Japan, and Mr. Wouter Jurgens, Director for Security Policy Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.