Anybody who has a working knowledge of World History knows that that the Netherlands and Japan have a special link. The Tokugawa Shogun forbade foreign travel to Japan in 1635 resulting in the closure of the islands for 200 years. Yet, he allowed Dutch (and Chinese) traders to continue their business The Dutch held their base at Nagasaki harbor, on an island called "DESHIMA" for 250 years, with all new goods and the technologies-of-the-day coming via this Gateway to the World.
The year 2000 will mark the 400'th anniversary of the arrival of the Dutch ship "De Liefde" on Japan's shores, and therewith Japan's link with the Netherlands. This anniversary has incited the organization of a host of events and festivals in both countries. ...And you might be able to take part!
Since 15 years Tokyo boasts its own "DESHIMA": Deshima Co. Ltd.; the gateway to Japan.
There is a friendly and intriguing Dutchman who also has a special link with Japan. Ever since Dirk Rebel came here, over 25 years ago, he continued to bring Dutch tradition to this country. With his Japanese company, Deshima, he provides Dutch goods, crafts, artisans, artists and people in national costume, at festivals , hotels and department stores all over Japan.
People who have worked with him are very enthusiastic.
Now, and especially with the coming celebration year, he needs more staff.

There are different types of work: First of all there's department store work. Here he might sell cheese, waffles or Delfts blue pottery: "Because it's in a Japanese store, each store has its own culture and rules on how to behave: what you say to the customer, where you stand, how you arrange your selling point. A foreigner working in this environment doesn't have to bow exactly as the rest of the sales-persons, because he is a foreigner. But the best department-stores still have their daily exercises in teaching everybody how to behave towards the CLIENT, who is the king-or-queen at this moment. These lessons ale very valuable, because it gives you the proper way of behavior, or if nothing else, the rules against which you knowingly deviate after submerging into them.

Under the organization of Nagasaki Town Hall, in honor of the 400'th anniversary, Deshima is organizing a "traveling circus" of department store appearances. With his stands of Dutch goods, staffed with a group of sales "mannequins" he will spend approximately 3 weeks a month in stores all over Japan. The products for sale will be meat products, tea, chocolate, souvenirs, seeds, bulbs and cheese. Selling the cheese is a whole performance in itself, using the same tools as an old cheese monger. The salesperson can live out a performance: The more show the better!
There's one favorite product for example. The "Real Dutch Cheese Waffle" which Dirk invented himself. These waffles are made from scratch, with a recipe including aged Gouda cheese, spiced up with pepper and paprika. Delicious!
The other type of work Deshima organizes is at festivals in the countryside, in villages and in parks. This is even more fun as it usually is outside. Besides having the stand with souvenirs, Rebel comes along with one of his musical organ (draai orgel), everybody as usual is in Dutch national costume and there's sometimes a big portable windmill so people can pose for the ultimate Dutch photograph. Live performances complete the show: these range anywhere from traditional Dutch crafts (oude ambachten) to , via dance, music to pure street performances. "I welcome any kind of trick or talent as long as it's fitting and entertaining," says Rebel. "Next year we hope to organize a group of foreigners performing dances in traditional clothes: a wooden-shoes-dance!"

The models don't necessarily have to be fluent in Japanese. "Sometimes it even works out better if they don't, because it adds to the foreigner mystique of the experience. Then the Japanese can go home and feel that they met a real Dutch person," says Rebel. The funny thing is you don't really have to be Dutch at all. "Actually, it works better to have a tall, blond Australian with blue eyes who looks Dutch rather than a true Dutch person who's dark," he says. In truth it doesn't really matter and he says it's ultimately how well you play the role that counts. He recalls how one tall young Dutchman impressed the girls as he explained with English, actions and mimics, that the little Christmas tree seeds he was selling would grow as tall as himself if they nurtured them as lovingly as his mother did for him.

"The point is," says Rebel, "this job is about meeting people, performing, and the experience. It gives the opportunity to take part in a group. Within a Japanese context. If you come to visit Japan you're usually only an onlooker and an outsider. By joining in my stands you'll be participating. You see a festival from the inside and work in a team. That's what's so stimulating. We always have a lot of fun together. You learn language and culture by living it."

One of the upcoming projects for example is Japan Flora 2000. Deshima will have a stand in this flower park from 18 March to 17 September on Awajishima Island next to Kobe. Staff will be provided with accommodation -and a bicycle - "to complete the feeling and to ride over the longest Suspense Bridge of Japan, which leads to the island," Rebel says enthusiastically. Dutch staff will work with Japanese on the stand. He expects, like at all of his festivals, that the work will be intense. "I'm not going to deny it's hard work, but it's in shifts, and the experience will be invaluable," he says.

There are many jobs to be taken over the next year. The year 2000 is promising to be a hive of activity. Therefore, Rebel and his company Deshima are asking interested people to join in the fun and hard work. He wants people from Holland, or other nationalities who look like the Japanese people's stereotype of the Dutch, who happen to be spending some time in Japan or for whatever reason in Japan, or people who want to but need a purpose. The salary is often limited, but expenses, transport and board is paid for. Wives of men who are on foreign assignments are often very interested, because it gives them a job, a possibility to exploit past know-how, and learn by new experiences!

If you are interested please don't hesitate to call Dirk Rebel at his office in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. Tel. +81 (0)3 3988 1740, Fax +81 (0) 3988 5248, Email: rebel@deshima.co.jp

Right now: We need musicians to accompany Japanese weddings; to encourage this "romantic-feeling" that you wane cry of happiness; a basic repertoire of Golden Oldies, Tear-Jerkers" (1-4 people/group)