Consider the Dutch and Japanese flags waving side by side. Today we stand before the \u65e5\u862d\u4ea4\u6d41\u56db\u767e\u5468\u5e74\u8a18\u5ff5\u5e83\u5834 Stele. It marks a significant milestone. This stele commemorates 400 years of relations between Japan and the Netherlands.
Let me tell you the story behind this monument. It is a story of trade, cooperation, and enduring friendship. Relations began in 1609. The Dutch were granted trading rights. They established a trading post in Hirado. The Dutch East India Company operated it. They traded spices, textiles, porcelain, and silk.
The Dutch helped the Tokugawa shogunate suppress the Shimabara uprising in 1637. Christian Japanese rebels were fighting against the shogunate. As a result, all other Christian nations were expelled. The Dutch became the sole Western commercial partner. Their trading post moved to Dejima. Dejima was an artificial island in Nagasaki harbor.
After Commodore Perry’s arrival in 1854, Japan opened its doors. The Netherlands was among the first to sign a treaty in 1858. This was one of the Ansei Treaties. The Dutch gifted the Kank\u014d Maru to Japan in the 1860s. It was a modern steam warship. The Nagasaki Naval Training Center was established. It helped train Japanese sailors.
Post-World War II relations were complex. Japan had occupied the Netherlands East Indies. This led to Indonesian independence. Emperor Hirohito’s 1971 visit to the Netherlands was controversial. Protests occurred due to World War II memories.
Despite the past, relations improved. Philips and Sony collaborated. They created technologies like the compact disc. In 2009, the Netherlands issued a commemorative 5 euro coin. It celebrated 400 years of relations with Japan.
Fast forward, and in 2025, Japan and the Netherlands will celebrate 425 years of ties. This includes security and economic growth. The Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025 will strengthen economic bonds. This is especially true in energy and technology.
The \u65e5\u862d\u4ea4\u6d41\u56db\u767e\u5468\u5e74\u8a18\u5ff5\u5e83\u5834 Stele is more than granite. It symbolizes a lasting connection. It is a testament to mutual respect and shared progress. This monument reminds us of centuries of exchange.