Japanese Emperor Naruhito and King Philippe visit KU Leuven University Library
Japanese Emperor Naruhito and King Philippe visited the KU Leuven University Library on Wednesday afternoon as part of the Japanese imperial couple's state visit to Belgium, marking 160 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The two heads of state were welcomed at Ladeuzeplein, where they were given an introduction to the library and its history. A choir provided a musical welcome from the building's monumental staircase.
Earlier in the day, Naruhito and the King attended a presentation on water management in Namur, a subject of particular interest to the Japanese Emperor. They also visited the imec research centre in Leuven, which has maintained close ties with Japan for nearly four decades.
The visit to the University Library highlighted the historical links between Japan and KU Leuven. After the library was destroyed during the First World War, Japan contributed significantly to rebuilding its collection, donating around 3,000 works, many dating from the Edo period (1600–1868). During the visit, Naruhito and Philippe were shown several of these historical volumes.
©BELGA VIDEO JEROME FETU
The delegation first toured the East Asian Library before proceeding to the main library, where they viewed a special collection and met with KU Leuven students.
The visit concluded with another performance by the choir on the library steps. The University Library remained closed to students, staff and visitors throughout the day due to the royal visit.
#FlandersNewsService | Japanese Emperor Naruhito and King Philippe pictured during a visit to the KU Leuven Library. ©BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND
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