April 25, 2025
On April 21, Keio University hosted a lecture at its Mita Campus by Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, titled "The Netherlands and Japan: the future of a historical partnership in times of global upheaval." The event was attended by a delegation from the Dutch government, the Dutch Ambassador to Japan, the Japanese Ambassador to the Netherlands, and other embassy officials, as well as many students, faculty, and staff members from Keio University, including President Kohei Itoh.
In his opening remarks, President Itoh welcomed Prime Minister Schoof to the university. He spoke of the deep historical ties between Japan and the Netherlands, which has served as a bridge for learning between Japan and the West, and how these ties led to the establishment of Keio University, which originated as a school for Dutch studies (Rangaku-juku). He also noted that Keio University has now built active academic exchange partnerships with many of the leading universities in the Netherlands.
In his lecture, Prime Minister Schoof stated that everything on earth is now interconnected, and that economy and trade, which have been central to the over 400 years of exchange between Japan and the Netherlands, are no exception. He then emphasized the need to promote economic security and resilience, taking into account geopolitical changes. He also stated that close cooperation between nations and people is essential to protect universal values such as freedom, justice, and democracy, and to address common global challenges including developments in high-tech and life sciences, food security, and the energy transition. He concluded with strong words of encouragement for the students' future endeavors, urging them to further strengthen the cooperative relationship between the Netherlands and Japan, a country where the ideas and spirit of Yukichi Fukuzawa are still very much alive.
In the dialogue between Prime Minister Schoof and the students, moderated by Professor Yuichi Hosoya of the Faculty of Law, opinions were exchanged on a wide range of topics. These included Europe's response to the new global political and economic order, the future of cooperation between Europe and Japan, population migration within Europe, the global deployment of Dutch agricultural technology adapted to climate change, and even the Prime Minister's impressions of the ongoing Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai.
Photography: Takeshi Kishi