Visit to Europe
Makoto Otsuka (Director General) and Akio Yoshidawelcomed us warmly in the office in the impressive(Deputy Director General) visited The Netherlands, France,
historical building. Explaining about our plan of building theand Switzerland, from August 28 to September 8, 2006. Our
new center for the Japanese children, they kindly offered us
purpose for the visit was to meet people in each place tothe use of photo materials in our new exhibition.
prepare for the new exhibition of our new center.
In Paris, we visited the Shoah Memorial. Mr. Jacques
Our first destination wasFredj, head of the Shoah
Amsterdam, visiting the Anne
Memorial, kindly guided us
Frank House, the Netherlands
around the museum. TheInstitute for War Documentation
substantial exhibition with(NIOD), and other places tomany artifacts impressed us
look for artifacts related to thevery much. The room withdays of the Holocaust.
many photos of children
At the Anne Frank House, we Mr. Westra and Ms. da Silva of AFH
victim's faces really touchedWith Mr. Fredj at Shoah Memorial
had the privilege to meet Mr.
our hearts.
Hans Westra, Director, and discuss our future cooperation
In Paris, we also had theplans. Thanks to Mr. Francois
privilege to attend theUzan from Paris, we wereShabbat Service at Victoire
Visit to Basel
On September 3rd, we visited Basel, to meet Mr. Buddy and Synagogue and meet Rabbi
Mrs. Gerti Elias, the only cousin of Anne Frank alive, and also Gilles Bernheim and his
president of the Anne Frank congregation.
Fonds. They welcomed us After heading back towarmly, and we enjoyed the Amsterdam, we visited
reunion since their visit to Japan Camp Westerbork Museum.
in June 2005.
There we met Mr. Guido
Mr. and Mrs. Elias kindly Abuys, Conservator, andOtsuka at Mr. Otto Frank's office
prepared many artifacts related discussed how we could
Mr. Buddy Elias and his family to the Frank family and thekindly guided around theElias family for our newwhole museum, especially
Mr. Buddy Elias and his family
exhibition, knowing that we are
the attic where Anne's familyhid, by Mr. Barry van Driel
oftheInternational planning to make a special
DepartmentandMs. exhibition on Anne and her family.
AnnemarieBekkerof The artifacts which they presented
C o m m u n i c a t i o n s us were boots, a suitcase,stationeries of Otto Frank, and toys,
Department. Entering eachWith Mr. Abuys at Westerbork
books, sideboards, etc., from theirroom in the attic, especiallyfamily.
Rose of Anne at the BotanicalAnne's room, strongly
cooperatewith
their
Roseof Anne
Mr. Elias kindly took us around
Garden,Baselatthe Botanical Garden in Basel
impressed us, letting us feel the city of Basel. We visited the synagogue,museum.
Mr.
Abuys
wasJewish museum, andhow it was like to live inkindenoughtograntus
thethe Botanical Garden where the Rosehiding in such a limited
permission
tomakereplicasof Anne Frank is newly planted.
space.
We also had the privilige to visit the of some of the artifacts
We were allowed to enterhouse where Otto used to live, and to which belong to their
the room where Otto Frankhis grave. We were happy that we museum. Walking inside
worked and wrote letters inwere able to express our gratitude to the site of the camp, wherethe Anne Frank House. Being
Anne Frank, her family, andhim.
Otto Frank's graveinterviewed by Mr. Uzan inso many other Jewish
this room, enabled Makoto
people were forced to stay,
Otsuka to feel close to Mr. Frank, recalling the warm
we felt the sorrow and agony of those people through each ofhumanity he showed to everyone. We had a meeting with
our steps. The railroad track left from those days seemed toMs. Terezien da Silva of thecut off their happiness and dreams.
Exhibition
Department,
In Amsterdam, we also visited Anne Frank Motessoris
discussing how we canSchool. Mr. Bas Moll, Director, kindly took us around thecooperate with each other toschool, including the room where Anne used to study.
tell the story of Anne FrankDuring our stay in Europe, we were able to gather someto young people.
items of the days of 30's and 40's at antique shops andAt NIOD, Mr. Erik Somers
markets, such as a lamp, a skateboard, children's books, etc.
and Mr. Peter van der Maas
We will use them as a part of the new exhibition, hoping thatof the Information andthe Japanese children could feel how the life of the children
With Mr. Somers and Mr. Maas
Documentation Departmentof those days were like.
at NIOD

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