Video message for Dujat Essay Awards

Judges,

Essayists,

Members of the Dujat community,

Let me begin by offering my apologies. You know how committed I am to Dutch-Japanese relations and of my love of the Land of the Rising Sun. It was a great honour for me to chair the main panel of judges for this second edition of the Essay Awards. Therefore I am very sorry indeed that I cannot be there live for the presentation of the prizes. And that I can only send you this video message.

As a young student I, myself, in the early eighties, once won an essay contest and was able to make a trip to Japan. My fascination with the country only grew after that, including during my time as Mayor of Amstelveen. It has brought me friends, experiences and insights for life. For example, I remember a visit to the Hakone area when Mount Fuji suddenly appeared before us with not a cloud in sight. I was speechless. Experiences which I heartily recommend to a new generation.

Students from various universities and colleges submitted entries for the Essay Awards. The topic they discussed was: ‘sustainable mental health and well-being in the society of the future’. The social aspect of the theme central to next year’s World Expo in Osaka: designing for a future society.

A highly relevant theme in these unsettled times. Many of us – especially young people – are troubled by all those concerns. Fortunately, since the Corona period more focus has been placed on mental well-being. It is positive that the World Expo Osaka will provide an outlook for the future with plenty of high tech and innovations.

The nominees must be anxious by now to know the results. So I will gladly hand you back for the presentation of the Essay Awards and the long-awaited announcement of which of the finalists has won a trip to Japan.