Speech by His Majesty the King of the Belgians on the occasion of the State Banquet hosted in honour of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan
Speech by
His Majesty the King of the Belgians
on the occasion of the State Banquet hosted in honour of
Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan
Castle of Laeken, Tuesday 23rd June 2026
Your Majesties, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Queen Mathilde and I are delighted to receive you in Laken for this State visit. For a long time, we have been looking forward to your return to our country.
Your visit is an important milestone in the relation that exists between our countries and also between our families.
When Prince Arisugawa Taruhito visited Belgium in 1882 at the invitation of King Leopold II, he triggered a fascination with Japan. This encounter is at the origin the Japanese Tower, of which we are very proud and which we will visit on Thursday.
But the most memorable early visit was that of Crown Prince Hirohito to Belgium in 1921. He visited the city of Leuven in ruins, especially the destroyed library. Deeply moved, he vowed to help with the rebuilding of the library. We remain forever grateful for his generous gesture and will honour this legacy tomorrow. Fifty years after his historic visit, the Emperor Showa returned to Belgium for the first ever State Visit of a Japanese Emperor in 1971.
Your Majesty, I remember us being together in Laken when we were very young, with my uncle King Baudouin. Today, we looked at some endearing family pictures taken by the King himself.
In 1985 I had the chance to travel to your country for the first time. I was impressed by the fascinating culture and the beauty of Japan. You kindly received me each time I went back for a visit. Among many other things, you introduced me to the very authentic tea ceremony. Since then, Japan has become more and more familiar to me.
As crown princes, we went jogging in the beautiful imperial parc in Tokyo, or in the park here in Laken. I will confess tonight: I was impressed by your excellent condition. It was hard to keep up with you.
A short time after our wedding, Queen Mathilde and I visited Japan in the year 2000. There again we felt the deep friendship and appreciation for both of us, by yourself and the Empress Masako and your entire family.
May I ask you, your Majesty, to convey our affectionate and respectful greetings to the Emperor Emeritus Akihito and the Empress Emerita Michiko.
Your Majesties,
Ten years after our unforgettable State Visit to Japan, we celebrate this year 160 years of diplomatic relations. All those years have seen a rich bloom of the countless seeds planted and nourished in every walk of life. They have resulted in one of Belgium’s closest relationships in the world.
One cannot underestimate the depth of our bilateral relations. They take on an even stronger value in today’s polarized world that often seeks to divide rather than to unite and cooperate. What we have built up together is offering a splendid example of the latter.
With Japan, we share an international commitment in favour of multilateralism, sustainable development and security, based on fundamental values.
Your Majesties,
Japan’s economic presence in Belgium started with Honda, the first Japanese investment in Europe. Today, we are proud to host an impressive number of Japanese companies, contributing to the prosperity of Belgium. They show unwavering trust in our country and a solid long-term engagement. They are carried by a sense of continuous improvement shared by all who are involved. They do not aim for immediate gain but strive for sustainable and harmonious growth. Even when times are tough, they continue investing. Inspired by my decades-long personal interaction with Japanese businesses in Belgium, I pay tribute to their fidelity and belief in the common good.
Your Majesty, I know that the matter of resilience against phenomena caused by natural disaster, climate change or technical failure, is close to your heart. Science and technology increasingly offer ways to strengthen such resilience and focus on effective prevention. Based on our close economic and scientific cooperation, we can make a difference and work towards a sustainable and safer future for the present and next generations.
Indeed: today, Japan and Belgium are at the forefront of solutions in areas like semiconductors, practical applications of hydrogen, renewable energy, optics and photonics, biotechnology and the digital economy. We also work for the security of our populations by promoting the defense against hybrid threats and cyber-attacks. We look after our populations in matters of health and care for those who need it.
Your Majesties,
For us Belgians, Japan is not only an economic and technological giant. It is perhaps foremost associated with beauty and the synergy of mind and matter. Japan is refinement in simplicity. We treasure Japanese gardens and value Japanese art. So much of Japan has become a natural part of our daily life.
Our admiration for Japan is genuine. Many Belgians have, like me, made the journey and discovered its strong cultural identity, yet marked by profound hospitality and life-long friendships. In today’s world, it simply feels good to have friends like Japan on the other side of the planet.
Your visit encourages us to further deepen and expand our exceptional and priceless bonds.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
May I now invite you to a toast to the health and happiness of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan.
Kan-pai!