On Sunday, 30 May the “Stichting de Hofreis” in Zeist hold Japanese art and cultural festival at the “Slottuintheater” and the garden of Zeist Castle. This event was held to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Zeist and Yamada, Iwate prefecture in Japan. In spite of the inclement weather conditions, many citizens in the community participated in various activities related to Japan including Origami, Shodo/calligraphy, Japanese cooking and enjoyed Japan related performances, such as story-telling, magicians and Japanese Taiko drums.
Mr. Tetsuya Ishii, Minister of the Embassy was received by member of the “Stichting de Hofreis” and enjoyed conversing with the special guests from Japan Mr. Teiro Kimura, member of the first delegation from Yamada to Zeist in 1996, and Mr. and Mrs. Wazou Kikuti. Former Mayor of Zeist Rudolf G. Boekhoven who signed the sister city agreement with Yamada in 2000 also came to celebrate the 10th anniversary and spend the afternoon with his old Japanese friends. The relationship between Zeist and Yamada originates in the fact that a Dutch fleet was washed to Yamada in 1640’s.