Love Letter from Brussels
<< Back List Next >>
Pleasure with Benefit: Part 1 (No.21)
September 26, 2015
I arrived in Belgium on September 12, 2014, so exactly one year has passed since then. Looking back, I feel that my efforts are still not sufficient, but I would also like to renew my determination to move forward. If you have any suggestions, please do not hesitate to let me know.
Well then, this time I would like to talk about an unexpected combination of pleasure and benefit.
Belgian Beer Weekend
August has come to an end and the Belgian people resume their activities in earnest. Nonetheless, once a year, in the first weekend of September, the Belgian Beer Weekend is held! This year as well, from the evening of September 4 (Friday) until the evening of September 6 (Sunday), beer stands of nearly 40 breweries stood side by side on the Grand Place and offered more than 200 kinds of beer, attracting flocks of beer aficionados. The system is simple. Entry to the event is free of charge, but to receive a beer glass one needs to buy a yellow chip as a deposit (3 euro and reimbursed afterwards), as well as crown corks (1 euro per piece), which act as tokens to exchange for beer. When you hand over the yellow chip plus the corresponding number of crown corks for a certain beer, you will receive the beer of your choice. When you finish the beer and return the glass, your yellow chip will be given back to you. Most beers cost around 3 crown corks for a glass, which corresponds to 3 euro (around 400 yen).
Something typically Belgian is that there were no snacks served along with the drinks at the venue. As you would expect, even Belgians brought in fries and cheese by themselves. Similarly, I also spotted a Japanese person bringing in some edamame (green soybeans).
I think many people know this, but the Belgian Beer Weekend is held not only in Belgium, but also in Japan. Starting this year at the end of April in Nagoya and moving on to Fukuoka, Yokohama, Osaka, Hiroshima and Sendai before arriving in Tokyo where it is held from September 15 - 23. The city of Tokyo, where the event originally started, is having its sixth edition this year. From this year my birth-place Hiroshima was added and next year, year of the 150th anniversary of Friendship between Japan and Belgium, I think that another city might also be newly added. People of Belgium as well, please come to Japan by using the now established direct flight and enjoy Belgian beers in Japan.
The fact that this event could develop into what it is today, is largely thanks to the relentless efforts of Konishi Brewing Company’s President, Mr. Konishi, the man who introduced Belgian beer to Japan and thanks to people such as Ms. Sato, Head of the Secretariat, managing just about everything.
Honorary Knight of Belgian Beer
On the occasion of this year’s Belgian Beer Weekend, I was honored to receive the title of “honorary knight of Belgian beer”. This year marked the 17th edition of this event. Originally, this title was meant to give public recognition to people who made a contribution to the promotion of Belgian beer. Yet, the reason it was bestowed on me this time was because next year will mark the 150th anniversary of Friendship between Japan and Belgium, in combination with a recommendation from longtime honorary knights, President Konishi and Mr. Sato. Once again, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to them.
The ceremony for becoming an honorary knight was grandiose. First, there was a reception for this year’s newly elected honorary knights at the Brewers’ guild house, looking out on the Grand Place. There, branches of hop were pinned on our chest as decoration. Beer barrels were moved on foot up to the nearby St. Michaels’ cathedral, followed by an orchestra dressed in beautiful traditional clothes and the group of knights. Subsequently, a nearly 1-hour mass was held at the Cathedral before the opening of the Belgian Beer Weekend. After that, we returned to the Grand Place on foot. There, we were welcomed by the trumpets of the orchestra that was positioned on the balcony of the second floor of the brewers’ guild house. Then, we moved on to the Gothic Room of the City Hall, further down the Grand Place, where the honorary knighthood ceremony was held.
The award ceremony itself was warm and simple. However, I was the first among the honorary knights to be called forward, not really knowing what to do. First, the master of ceremonies stated the virtues that made one a suitable honorary knight. In my case, it was because I created many opportunities to drink Belgian beer in relation to the 150 years celebration and because of my fair share of personal beer consumption... I was asked by the chairman of the honorary knights if I would swear to promote Belgian beer. Upon replying “Yes, I swear”, I was padded on both shoulders with a hoe-like object used for stirring beer, and the words “with this you have become an honorary knight” were sternly uttered. I received a medal and a certificate, a camera was brought in and that was that.
“Benefit”
On this occasion, more than 10 other people also became honorary knights besides me. Actually, two of them I knew because of my professional relationship with them. One is the mayor of Brussels Mr. Mayeur. Just after taking office one year ago, I met him at the commemoration ceremony of the “Louisa - Sakaemachi Sister Shopping Districts”, which I mentioned also in this blog. I think that next year, being the year of the 150 Years of Friendship, we will turn up together at many places, the Brussels Flower Carpet to name only one.The other person I knew is Federal Defense Minister Mr. Vandeput. I once made a courtesy visit to him and after that I sometimes met him at receptions, but from now on we are “graduates in the same class”. After the award ceremony and before the beer stands officially opened to the general public, there was an opportunity to have a beer with the knights and honorary knights for about 2 hours. On that occasion we got better acquainted. While the two of us were drinking delicious beer, we felt a little full and contentedly stroking our bellies, we vowed to each other that “from tomorrow on, we should watch out not to drink too much beer”.
