Culture & Lifestyle

Netherlands Consul General in Osaka-Kobe Dirk Jan Kop, second from right, and his wife, are flanked by Osaka Mayor Kunio Hiramatsu, right, and Ryuichiro Yamazaki, the Japanese Foreign Ministry's ambassador for the Kansai area during a reception held on April 24 to celebrate the birthday of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix.

In their respective speeches, Kop, Yamazaki and Hiramatsu underscored the importance of promoting friendly relations in various fields between the two countries. They also pledged to cooperate closely in the Netherlands year in Japan '08-09 program to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations.

About 150 people, including representatives of international friendly organizations and members of the Netherlands community in the Kansai region, attended the function held at the Mayor's Mansion, Osaka.