japan netherlands
Definition
A collocation referring to the geographical, cultural, or diplomatic relationship between the island nation of Japan and the Northwestern European country of the Netherlands.
A historical reference to the unique 'Rangaku' (Dutch learning) period during Japan's Edo era, when the Dutch were the only Westerners permitted to trade with Japan through the Dejima enclave.
Examples
The history of Japan and the Netherlands is essentially a long-distance relationship that started with a trading outpost and evolved into a mutual appreciation for tulips and high-speed trains.
If Japan and the Netherlands held a competition for who could make better infrastructure, the Dutch would probably just reclaim the land from the sea to win by default.
It is fascinating how Japan and the Netherlands managed to maintain a diplomatic romance for centuries despite the inconvenient distance and the occasional shipwrecks.