Japan-Netherlands Water Conferences
The Tokyo conference was organized by the Japan Institute of International Affairs, and supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Japanese Cabinet Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Ministry of the Environment, and Japan Water Forum. In total there were about 60 attendees. After congratulary speeches by Prof. Masuo Aizawa (Executive Member, Council for Science and Technology Policy, Cabinet Office) and H.E. Mr. Philip de Heer (Ambassador of the Netherlands in Japan), the Opening Presentation was given by Mr. Bert Toussaint (Senior Historian, Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management) introducing actions by De Rijke and other Dutch water management experts during the Meiji period. During the panel discussion, Mr. Kenzo Hiroki (Counselor-Director Science and Technology Bureau, Cabinet Office), Mr. Jos van Alphen (Senior Advisor Flood Risk Management, Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management), Mr. Toshio Okazumi (Director for International Water Management Coordination, River Bureau, MLIT), Mr. Sjef IJzermans (Former Netherlands Ambassador to Bangladesh, Senior Advisor Water Resource Management) and Prof. Taikan Oki (Tokyo University) gave presentations about topics such as flood measures and hazard maps, as well as the assistance to developing countries adapt to climate change.
The Gifu Conference was Co-organized by the Japan Institute of International Affairs, Gifu Prefecture, and the Chunichi Shimbun, and supported by Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and others. After an expert meeting with 40 attendees in the morning, there was an open symposium in the afternoon with about 200 attendees. After opening remarks by the Governor of Gifu Prefecture Mr. Hajime Furuta, Ambassador De Heer gave a keynote speech on non-technical matters like ideology and aesthetics of water, and the relations between the Netherlands and Japan. During the panel discussion, Mr. Hiroshi Oki (former minister of environment), Mr. Koos Wieriks (Secretary of the Dutch National Advisory Water Management Board), Prof. Tetsuro Tsujimoto (Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University), Mr. Jos Van Alphen (Senior Advisor Flood Risk Management, Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management) Mr. Bin Ogawa (Mayor of Ogaki City) and Professor Toshiro Kojima (Aoyama Gakuin University) gave presentations and discussed about new perspective for cooperation, both bilaterally as well as in third countries, on topics such as environment in general, water management, flood control, climate cooperation, etc.
Image: Front cover of Chunichi Shinbun Newspaper, June 27, 2009
