Visit to the Japanese Library Collection of the French-language Catholic University of Louvain (UCL) and Attendance of Exhibition Opening at Musee L

On May 9, Ambassador Hayashi visited the Catholic University of Louvain (UCL) in Louvain-la-Neuve. He was received by the Vice-Rector for International Relations, Prof. Dana Samson. The Ambassador received explanations from Professor emeritus Vande Walle of the Dutch-language Catholic University of Leuven (KUL) and the curator and responsible of the university’s rare book depository, Ms. Emilie Vilcot, about the Japanese book collection stored at the university’s rare book depository.
The precious collection was donated in 1920 by Japan to symbolize the friendship relations between Japan and Belgium, after the library of Leuven was completely destroyed and burned during the First World War by the German army at that time. 100 Years ago, on the occasion of the Versailles Peace Conference in 1919, an international committee in which Japan also participated was set up with the aim of rebuilding the library of Leuven, and in 1921 the then Crown Prince His Imperial Highness Hirohito made a visit to the university. Despite the Great Kanto Earthquake occurred in Japan in 1923, Japan carried out the donation project, with six shipments between 1924 and 1926, totaling 14.000 volumes on subjects in various fields, including works of great historical and artistic value.
The collection miraculously survived the ravages of the Second World War, and was later transferred to the French-language Catholic University of Louvain (UCL), which was newly established in Louvain-la-Neuve in 1968 when the University of Leuven was split up in a Dutch and French-language university. Currently, a digitalization project is in progress to make the collection available to many people.

https://dial.uclouvain.be/digitization/fr/digital-collection/collection-japonaise

Following this visit, Ambassador Hayashi, together with the Rector of the UCL Prof. Blondel, attended the opening of the exhibition entitled “Images et Illustrations au Japan d’Edo (1603-1868)” at Musée L. After the opening remarks by Rector Blondel, Ambassador Hayashi stated that “in Japan, a unique and high standard of culture developed during the Edo period, which also influenced European culture after the opening of Japan to the rest of the world during the Meiji period. The Japanese book collection donated by Japan 100 years ago is a proof of the friendship from Japan to Belgium at that time, and I hope that many people will discover the existence of the collection through this exhibition".
The exhibition introduces among other things beautiful Edo-period ehon (picture books) from the above-mentioned collection, ukiyo-e (woodblock prints), shikki (lacquer ware) and netsuke (ornamental toggles), and is held until August 18.

http://www.museel.be/fr/evenement/exposition-singuliere-images-et-illustrations-au-japon-dedo-1603-1868