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My friend, and ardent Japan lover, Leyla was so kind to get some Japanese street fashion fans together during my visit to the Netherlands in May. It was great fun meeting everybody and I want to thank everybody for taking the time out of their busy schedule to allow me to photograph them.

As it happens, I shot everybody at the Japan Market, which takes place in the Dutch city of Leiden every May. A small romantic town nearby Amsterdam, Leiden is the home of Japan Museum SieboldHuis, the National Museum of Ethnology, which has one of the world’s largest Japan collections, and Leiden University, famed for its Japan Studies program. The town is the center of Japan studies in the Netherlands.

The Japanmarkt, as it is called in Dutch, was started by the SieboldHuis after the Japanese emperor’s visit in 2000. Since then it has become extremely popular. It now features many dozens of stalls introducing different aspects of Japan, and all kinds of activities, ranging from music and dance performances to a cosplay photo shoot.

Leyla, Makeup Artist

Usagi, Secretary

Noriko, Nurse

Daisetsu, Videographer

Nathan, Social Worker

Parelmoer Duifje, Student

Victor Roja, Student

Catherene, Entrepreneur

Deborah, Student

Yasu Haruto, Student

Nicolas, Student

Eva, Student