at a Commemorative Concert for Japan

Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Concertgebouw, Amsterdam

Your Royal Highnesses, Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great honour to be in such illustrious company at this commemorative concert for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11.  For the past two and a half months my embassy in the Hague and the Japanese community here have been overwhelmed by the compassion expressed in so many different ways by our Dutch friends.  There are truly no words to convey our deep gratitude for it. A moment of silence was held in the Second Chamber. A silent march through the streets of Amsterdam took place. Events such as the ‘1000 Origami paper Cranes in the SieboldHuis in Leiden and the ‘Cherry Blossom Festival’ were organized as well as charity dinners and a charity football match in the Arena Amsterdam. Private individuals, schools, churches, sport associations and the Netherlands Red Cross Society as well as the Government have contributed to raising  funds and collecting  goods for the stricken regions of Tohoku and Kanto.   The Netherlands’ help touched the hearts and minds of the Japanese people.

This evening we will have the distinct pleasure of listening to the magnificent Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and its interpretation of Vivaldi’s beautiful piece, the ‘Four Seasons’.  I am proud to note that a Japanese poet, Ryoichi Wago, from Fukushima, one of the areas that suffered from this tragedy, joins us and shares some of the moving poems he wrote following the disaster. The choice of Mr. Wago as our poet and narrator by our Dutch friends was in itself impressive and admirable.   In the midst of this disaster, his poetry reached thousands both in and outside Japan through the contemporary medium of ‘Twitter’. 
To date over 15,000 lives have been lost, more than 5,000 were injured and 8,000 are still missing in Japan.  The damage to property and infrastructure was so great that more than 150,000 people are still in temporary shelters. A nuclear power station is still in trouble.  Foreign media generously reported the behavior of our victims as orderly, calm and disciplined.   But naturally they were also full of human emotions.  I would rather refrain from adding any more prosaic explanations. Through his poetry, Mr. Wago will convey to you some thoughts and emotions of the Japanese people.

Your Royal Highness, Excellencies, Dear Friends,

More than 400 years ago the Netherlands extended the hand of friendship and contributed to our modernization.  Today we see that hand extended once again, this time offering comfort in a time of distress. 
Japan will recover from this crisis and emerge stronger than ever. Since several weeks ago traveling to Japan does not pose any logistic or health problems.  Through the strengths inherent to the Japanese people we will achieve recovery and further advancement.  Together with the friendship and support from friends abroad, however, this process will be accelerated. It will also be attained in a more congenial way.  In fact, the solidarity we feel here this evening is a clear sign, which convinces all of us that together we are already starting this process.   
In closing I would like to offer my warmest thanks to the Japan Festival Foundation and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra for their efforts in organizing this commemorative concert.  

Dank U Amsterdam/Dank U Nederland

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