160th Anniversary of Friendship Japan-Belgium Event: Ceremony of dressing up Manneken Pis like a Samurai
2026/7/31
On July 31, to commemorate the 160th anniversary of the signing of the Japan-Belgium Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Friendship on 1st August 1866, the Manneken Pis statue—a famous tourist attraction in Brussels—was dressed in a traditional Japanese samourai costume.
This costume was created by Izumi Hongo, a Japanese designer based in Antwerp, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Japan-Belgium friendship. At 10:00 a.m. on that day, Ambassador Osuga, Mr. Asselborn, Director General for Southeast Asia and the Pacific at the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and representatives from the City of Brussels delivered remarks, praising the long-standing friendship that has endured since the signing of the Treaty.
Following the ceremony, the national anthems of both countries, the “Manneken Pis” song, and a fanfare were performed, and Belgian beer and Japanese beer were served, providing an opportunity to reaffirm the longstanding friendship between the two nations together with the attendees.
This costume was created by Izumi Hongo, a Japanese designer based in Antwerp, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Japan-Belgium friendship. At 10:00 a.m. on that day, Ambassador Osuga, Mr. Asselborn, Director General for Southeast Asia and the Pacific at the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and representatives from the City of Brussels delivered remarks, praising the long-standing friendship that has endured since the signing of the Treaty.
Following the ceremony, the national anthems of both countries, the “Manneken Pis” song, and a fanfare were performed, and Belgian beer and Japanese beer were served, providing an opportunity to reaffirm the longstanding friendship between the two nations together with the attendees.