(26 Jun 2026) 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 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.
The news in full is here.
