On Sunday, 23 May the 3rd Japan Day Market took place in Leiden. This event was initially held to commemorate the visit to Leiden of the Emperor and Empress of Japan on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of Japanese-Dutch relations in the year 2000. In 2008 the first Japan market was held and was viewed by all to be a success in spite of the inclement weather conditions. This year over 40 market stalls lined the Rapenburg displaying Japanese art, antique, Bonsai trees and Ikebana arrangements, music, food, and representing martial arts, theatre Japan related cultural associations and businesses. At 12:00 Leiden’s own “Taiko Kids” welcomed the guest of honour: Ambassador Minoru Shibuya (see photo above) with a musical serenade on the Japanese Taiko drums. Together with Sieboldhuis director Hans Kuijpers Ambassador Shibuya stopped and chatted with many of the participants of this year’s Japan Market. In addition to the market stalls and the varied and delicious wares available, mini-lectures by Martien van Oijen of Naturalis, Carla Teune of the Hortus and Hans Kuipers were held simultaneously in the SieboldHuis. Leiden welcomed approximately 7000 visitors to the Japan market and at the end of the day all agreed that they would meet again next year.

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