Foreign Minister Commendation for Hasselt Japanese Garden

On November 20, the Foreign Minister’s Commendation 2017 was awarded by Ambassador Hayashi to the Hasselt Japanese Garden, located in the Province of Limburg, during the Garden’s 25th anniversary ceremony in attendance of Hasselt Mayor Vananroye and others. The Japanese garden was constructed in 1992 with the technical cooperation of Itami, the sister city of Hasselt. It is　one of the largest Japanese gardens in Europe and a symbol of the friendship and sister city exchange, while actively introducing Japanese culture. In 2017, in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the opening of the garden, various events such as cherry blossom viewing, Children’s Day and Tanabata (Star Festival) were held. Ambassador Hayashi showed his respect for the promotion of Japanese culture, not only in Hasselt but in the whole of Belgium, and for the contributions the Garden made to the friendship relations between Japan and Belgium. Ambassador Hayashi also expressed his gratitude for the Garden being a place where the Belgian people expressed their solidarity for Japan during the Great East Japan Earthquake, and handed Mayor Vananroye a certificate.