PROJECT

Wasurena-gusa Project in NL

The “Wasurena-gusa Project” records the history of the Japanese community in the United Kingdom through a number of interviews of those who settled in the UK from 1950 onwards. Launched in 2013 by the Japan Association in the UK, it aims to preserve the valuable testimonies of those who have helped shape the Japanese community in the UK for future generations.

Introduction of the Project

The ”Wasurena-gusa Project in NL” was born from the desire to document the valuable experiences and stories of senior Japanese residents in the Netherlands—just like the original project in the UK, which interviews senior Japanese residents there and shares their stories in video form. Inspired by this initiative, we approached the original Wasurena-gusa Project Team in UK and, with their kind support, will begin our activities under the same project title in the autumn of 2024.

The individuals participating in the Wasurena-gusa Project in NL come from diverse backgrounds, and each has their own unique reason for moving to the Netherlands. However, from the 1950s to the 1980s, it seems that many Japanese people came to the Netherlands as a result of marriage with Dutch nationals. In our project, we will focus especially on those who came during this period, inviting them to share what they experienced, the circumstances of the time, and their personal memories. We’re certain they will have many fascinating stories to tell.

Trends in the Japanese Population in the Netherlands

In the 1980s, the number of Japanese residents in the Netherlands was around 2,000. Due to the expansion of Japanese businesses into the country and a growing wave of Japan-Netherlands exchange in the fields of culture, education, and science and technology, that number has steadily increased—reaching over 12,000 as of 2024. Notably, since the 2000s, the Japanese population in the Netherlands has shown dramatic growth. One contributing factor is the re-emergence of the Japan-Netherlands Treaty of Commerce and Navigation, signed in 1912, which granted Japan most-favored-nation status. Even after rule revisions, the Netherlands has remained a country where Japanese nationals can relatively easily obtain work and residency permits.

Moreover, the Netherlands consistently ranks at the top in UNICEF’s global child well-being rankings, making it an increasingly popular destination for Japanese families seeking to relocate for educational reasons. Given these circumstances, the upward trend in the number of Japanese residents in the Netherlands is expected to continue.

Through the “Wasurena-gusa Project in NL”, we aim to spotlight the pioneering individuals who immigrated to and settled in the Netherlands during the 1950s and 1970s—a time when few Japanese were making this journey. We hope to capture and pass down their experiences, sentiments, and the paths they’ve walked, preserving these stories for future generations.

Organized by	Stichting Nichiran Net
Project Team	Mr. Kazumi Nakamura, Mr. Seiji Ikeda, Ms. Fumiko Miura, Ms. Mayumi Kitani
Video editing	SW Creative
Design, Website Management	Tulip Design