On 17 June 2008, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra performed in the Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall, being the first flagship event of "Nederland in Japan 2008-2009". About 2000 music lovers enjoyed this great evening. Prior to the concert a cocktail reception was organized for the sponsors of "Nederland in Japan".
On June 11, the Embassy of the Netherlands organized a seminar on emissions trading and sector approach. The purpose of the seminar was to bring together Dutch and Japanese policy makers and end-users of the carbon market to exchange policy views on the way forward after the G8 meeting this summer.
Ambassador Yukio Satoh, President of the Japan Institute for International Affairs, invited Professor Joris Voorhoeve to speak to JIIA members on June 11th 2008. This 200th JIIA Forum was organised under the auspices of the ‘2008-2009 Nederland in Japan celebrations’.
On June 12th, 2008 Professor Voorhoeve and H.E. Mr. Yasushi Akashi kicked off a lively debate at Keio University with two key note speeches on the complementarity between defence, diplomacy and development policies in international peace cooperation. Distinguished speakers from Japan and the Netherlands, under able chairmanship of Keio University professors Hosoya and Tadokoro, discussed both policy issues and field experiences in peacebuilding.
On May 28, 2008, the annual Ms. Lily 2008 award ceremony was held in Tokyo by the International Flower Bulb Centre. This year's theme is "Casa Blanca", one of the most typical varieties of white lilies. Ms. Ryoko Hirosue, a famous actress, has won the title as she embodies the most elegant and dignified beauty of Casa Blanca.
Mr Mikio Matsui, head of Okura Hotels, was honoured on 2 June at the Dutch residence in Tokyo for his long standing dedication to relations between Japan and the Netherlands. Mr Matsui started the first Okura hotel abroad in 1971 in Amsterdam.
An international jury consisting of representatives from Cell, Taito, the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Japan and the Dutch games industry has chosen Khaeon’s Water Power as the best entry for the Japan GameJam competition. The competition was launched to promote the long-lasting relationship between Japan and the Netherlands.
On 28 and 29 April two teams from the Netherlands, namely “de Spaarlampjes” and “IcNRG” participated in the finals of the First Lego League in Tokyo. After exciting robot matches and the victory by IcNRG from Eindhoven, both teams were welcomed by the Embassy of the Netherlands on Wednesday 30 April.
On 16 April 2008 Sakura City organised a commemoration ceremony to celebrate the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Netherlands.This ceremony also honoured the memory of Sakura native Masayoshi Hotta, the great Japanese Statesman and advisor to Shogun Tokugawa.
The 10th Niigata Festival was held in Niigata-city on 19 April, 2008, hosted by executive committee organised by the Niigata Netherlands Society.Mr Gerard Michels, Minister of the Netherlands Embassy took part in the festival together with his wife, Mrs Jennifer Snowden.
On June 11, the Embassy of the Netherlands organized a seminar on emissions trading and sector approach. The purpose of the seminar was to bring together Dutch and Japanese policy makers and end-users of the carbon market to exchange policy views on the way forward after the G8 meeting this summer. 
