Friendship between Japan & Belgium 150YEARS OF MESSAGES 02 His Majesty King Philippe of Belgium 04 Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan 06 Mr. Charles Michel, Prime Minister of Belgium 07 Count Herman Van Rompuy 08 Mr. Masafumi Ishii, Ambassador of Japan to Belgium 09 Mr. Gunther Sleeuwagen, Ambassador of Belgium to Japan KINGDOM OF BELGIUM Professor Gilbert Declerck, BJA President Federal Public Service 10 L’UNIO CHT N MA F KT A A IT A M L T A H E C FORCE ENDRA Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Mr. Koji Waki, President of Nihonjinkai in Belgium Development Cooperation 10 HISTORY 11 The Japanese Tower of Laeken, Ms. Nathalie Vandeperre 12 The History of Belgium - Japan Relations Professor Willy Vande Walle INFORMATION 18 Event Calendar 22 Sponsors © Jean-Pol Lejeune © Jean-Pol Let us make this anniversary a joyful celebration throughout the year 2016 © Belgian Royal Palace – Photo Christian Lambiotte Christian – Photo Palace © Belgian Royal hen Japan and Belgium Personal relations between the It is therefore with particular signed their first treaty of Imperial Family of Japan and my own pleasure that I assume, together with friendship, trade and navi- Family have been a part of this close His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, gation in 1866, Belgium was friendship between our countries the honorary presidency of the cele- still a young country, busily ever since the Crown Prince, the brations of the 150th anniversary of Wdeveloping its international rela- future Showa Emperor, was received the friendship between Belgium and tions, and Japan was newly opening in Belgium by my great grandfather, Japan. Let us make this anniversary itself to the world. They viewed each King Albert I, in 1921. I personally an occasion of joyful celebration other as exotic and very far away, have had the opportunity to visit throughout the year 2016, as well but considered that a closer relation- Japan on many occasions, including as a stepping stone for yet further ship would create new opportunities as head of several economic and intensification of our relations in the to the benefit of both countries. trade missions. These trips to Japan decades to come. Since then, over a period of 150 have allowed me to fully appreci- years, exchanges in the most varied ate the depth of its culture and the fields have been intense and led to a strength of the bond between our strong and mature friendship. two countries. His Majesty King Philippe of Belgium 2 3 Together with Against the backdrop of Japan World Heritage site, with a and Belgium’s bountiful culturally Japan-themed flower petal carpet. fertile soils, the turning point by the I invite you all to come and visit Prime Minister Michel, name of “150 Years of Friendship these gorgeously organized events. between Japan and Belgium” will be I continue to develop celebrated in a highly meaningful With the participation of all of way through organizing a myriad of you to the 150 Years of Friendship cultural events in order to further events I have great expectations for the relation between our deepen the bilateral amity. our bilateral bond to be nurtured even more. I am deeply grateful to all countries to a new level The floral festival “Ghent those who have lent their unyielding Floralies” will be held at a variety effort and support and I profoundly of locations throughout the city of wish our amicable cooperative rela- Ghent and will feature an abundance tionship to develop more than ever Beloved people of Belgium, of Japan-themed flower arrange- throughout this commemorative ments. The Brussels Flower Carpet year. on the other hand will completely cover the whole surface of the Mr. Shinzo Abe On behalf of the Govern- Emperor of Japan as the Honorary Brussels Grand Place, a UNESCO Prime Minister of Japan ment and the people of President on the Japanese side for Japan, I have the honor of “150 Years of Friendship between conveying my heartiest con- Japan and Belgium” is another gratulations on the occasion testimony of how highly Japan Oof “150 Years of Friendship between regards Belgium. Japan and Belgium”. Since the conclusion of the treaty of Amity, I myself visited Belgium in 2014 Commerce and Navigation in 1866, and subsequently Belgian Prime Japan and Belgium have developed Minister Michel visited Japan in invaluable relations of friendship 2015. The fact that mutual visits based upon the exceptional bond of the state leaders were set up in between the Japanese Imperial only a single year is heartening and Household and the Belgian Royal together with Prime Minister Michel Family. I would like to continue to develop the relation between our countries to Their Majesties the Emperor and a new level. the Empress of Japan made a visit to Belgium in 1993 as state guests, and Brussels, home of both the EU His Imperial Highness the Crown and NATO headquarters, is the cap- Prince, together with Her Imperial ital of Europe where many Japanese Highness the Crown Princess, visited companies have expanded their Belgium in 1999 on the occasion of market. Furthermore, the world- the royal wedding ceremony of His renowned cultures of both Japan Majesty King Philippe. Furthermore, and Belgium also deserve special the inauguration of His Majesty the mentioning. 4 5 Belgium and Japan are allies and friends years ago saw the The excellent cooperation beginning of a new between Japan and Belgium was era in the long his- illustrated by very successful royal 150 tory of Japan and state visits in the past, and also in We continue its relation with the rest of the world, 2016 by our common celebration especially with Europe and with my of the 150th anniversary of our own country Belgium. diplomatic relations. Belgium and working together We both went through turbu- Japan are allies and friends. I con- lent times but we have now since tributed in my former capacities as decades a strong structural relation- Prime Minister and President of the as partners and friends ship based on common interests and European Council and nowadays as even more common values. We are Haiku Ambassador for the Japan-EU strengthening this relationship via Friendship. n anniversary such as 150 years international order, based on respect negotiations with the EU on a Free does not come by every day. It for all persons and their rights. We Trade Agreement and more broadly Happy Anniversary! provides a wonderful oppor- also enjoy close economic ties, a Strategic Partnership Agreement. tunity to stop and take stock particularly in those high-technology In a world of renewed instability, of a friendship that is so well and innovative sectors that are the threats and terrorism our values are Count Herman Van Rompuy Aestablished, and goes so much with- future of our mature economies, at stake. Those developments bring The Friendship Ambassador for the 150 Years out saying, that we may sometimes such as biotechnology and electron- us even closer together. of Friendship between Japan and Belgium lose the measure of everything that ics. And the frequency of wonderful unites us. projects by artists and museums, During my visit to Japan in May as well as the number and level of 2015 – my first bilateral visit outside contacts between our universities, of Europe as Prime Minister – I had testify to the richness of cultural and the occasion to appreciate directly personal relations between Belgium how Belgium and Japan, in spite of and Japan. obvious cultural differences and geographical distance, share the I am looking forward to welcom- same values and the same out- ing Prime Minister Abe to Brussels look on our globalized world and in 2016, to celebrate this strong © European Union 2015 © European its future. Our advanced societies relationship, and to continue working face not only similar but common together on this solid basis as part- challenges: aging, how to generate ners and friends. new economic growth, climate change and environmental concerns. We share the same desire, and work together, for a peaceful, rules-based Mr. Charles Michel Prime Minister of Belgium 6 7 I invite you all to celebrate our anniversary Our two countries have expe- he year 2016 marks rienced an extraordinary turn of the 150th anniversary events over these years, which were of Japanese-Belgian marked by wars, reconstruction, diplomatic relations transformation in domestic and which were established international politics and economy. when our nations concluded the Throughout those turbulent years, TTreaty of Amity, Commerce and we maintained friendly relations. Navigation in 1866. Japan was at the Today, Japan and Belgium are dawn of transition from closed-door both democratic, free and peaceful, The strong feudalism to an open embrace of and making active international relationship between Western civilization. Belgium was contributions so that peace and a young independent state buzzing development can be shared by the Japan and Belgium rests on with industrial revolution. 150 years whole world. Our ties of friendship later, our bond is strong and the cel- are stronger and more promising the work of all the Belgian and ebration of “150 Years of Friendship than ever. between Japan and Belgium” will be I invite you all to celebrate this Japanese citizens the pinnacle of our relationship. wonderful anniversary together. Let us look back at our past, and think ahead for our future. o represent Belgium in lively today than ever. Every day I Japan is a high honor for a meet people, Japanese and Belgians, diplomat at any moment. who contribute to building ties Coming at the time that we between our countries, and every celebrate the 150th anniversary of day I am encouraged by the variety Mr.