Brussels, June 26 (Jiji Press)–With this year marking the 160th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Japan and Belgium, festivals across the European country will continue to showcase the two countries’ cultural exchanges even after the state visit of Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako. As the country of honor, Japan will take part in this year’s Ommegang, a traditional festival in Brussels to be held on Wednesday and July 3, in which people dressed in traditional costumes march through the city and stage a historical pageant at the Grand-Place, a World Heritage site. A pre-show event will feature Japanese “Awa Odori” and “Soran Bushi” traditional dances. On Aug. 13-16, the biennial Flower Carpet festival will be held at the Grand-Palace. At this year’s event, more than 500,000 dahlias will depict a “Neo-Hokusai” design, or a reinterpretation by Japanese artist Hiro Sugiyama and others of Katsushika Hokusai’s ukiyo-e woodblock print “The Great Wave off Kanagawa.” Plans are also underway to dress Manneken-Pis, a famous tourist attraction in Brussels, in Japanese costume. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
Japan to Stay in Spotlight in Belgium after Imperial Visit
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