Sister Cities
Kanazawa (Ishikawa) – Ghent (Belgium – Province of East-Flanders)
The twin city relationship between Ghent and Kanazawa started in 1971. Having enjoyed a long tradition of cultural exchanges, the two cities signed a protocol to stimulate the cooperation between the modern art museums and between the art schools in 2008. In 2012, a new cooperation agreement on cultural and student exchange was signed by both cities and in 2016 this co-operation agreement will be renewed.
The universities and the School of Arts of Ghent and Kanazawa have also cooperated for a long time, sending out and hosting exchange students. The Ghent University has a Chair Japanese Language and Culture and since 2015, the ‘Kanazawa Ghent University Liaison Office for Europe’ is located within the Ghent University building.
Both cities are ‘UNESCO World Cities of Creativity’; Kanazawa on crafts and folk art and Ghent on music. In 2015, there was a jazz-exchange between the Ghent Youth Jazz Orchestra (GYJO) and the JAZZ-21 youth big band from Kanazawa, and 7 Ghent runners participated in the first Kanazawa marathon in November of that year, to mention only two examples of recent cultural exchanges.
Japan also has a long tradition of economic cooperation with the City of Ghent. Many Japanese companies are active in Ghent including Honda, Yakult, Fuji Oil Europe, Vyncolit, MEC Europe and Innogenetics.
In 2016, the cooperation between the sister cities celebrates its 45th birthday. Coinciding with the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations and friendship between Japan and Belgium, the city of Ghent organizes numerous activities to mark this festive ‘Year of Japan’. The highlight of the celebration was the participation of Japan to the Ghent Floralies (Flower Show), held at the end of April 2016. Japan was guest of honor, and Kanazawa created their own Ransho garden design.
If you’re interested in more cooperative projects between Ghent and Kanazawa, please visit this website and be sure to check our Facebook page.
- Kanazawa
- Website
- Gent
- Website
- Ms. Inge Willemsen
- Service of International Co-operation
- Keizer Karelstraat 1, 9000 Gent
- 0032 9 266 56 26
- Inge.willemsen@Gent.be
A Kotoji Lantern in Ghent Citadel Park – a gift from the City of Kanazawa to the City of Ghent for the 35th anniversary of the twin city relationship.
The signing of a cooperation agreement by Mayor Termont (Ghent) and Mayor Yamano (Kanazawa) – 24 August 2012
The mayor of Ghent, Mr. Daniel Termont, receives the title of honorary citizen of Kanazawa – 24 August 2012
A picture of the Graslei in Ghent
