New Year’s Reception (January 8, 2020)

On 8 January 2020, Ambassador Horinouchi and his wife hosted the annual New Year’s Reception at their Residence. About 120 Japanese residents as well as Dutch guests with strong ties to Japan attended the reception. Thanks to representatives of the Ikebana Schools in the Netherlands (the schools of Ikenobo, Ichiyo, Ohara and Sogetsu) as well as Mrs. Horinouchi, the Ikebana arrangements exhibited beautiful New Year’s flowers and were perfectly suited to this first month of the new year.

At the beginning of the reception, Ambassador Horinouchi gave a New Year’s speech, followed by greetings from Mr. Satomi, the chairman of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCC), on behalf of the guests.

As is customary in Japan for ringing in the New Year, the speeches were followed by a traditional “kagami-biraki” ceremony, performed by Mr. Satomi of the JCC, the Mayor of Amstelveen Mr. Poppens, the former Honorary Consul-General in Amsterdam Mr. Rost Onnes as well as the current Honorary Consul-General of Japan in Amsterdam Mr. Ter Avest, and the Ambassador.
After the ceremony, everyone celebrated the new year in a lively and cordial atmosphere.