【Ambassador】Conferment Ceremony of The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon on H.E. Mr. Piet Steel, Honorary Consul General of Japan in Flanders (2025 Spring Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals)

  On 1 July, Ambassador Mikami hosted the Conferment Ceremony of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon on H. E. Mr. Piet Steel, Honorary Consul General of Japan in Flanders, at his residence. The decoration was awarded in recognition of Mr. Steel’s contribution to the promotion of exchanges and friendship between Japan and Belgium.

  At the ceremony, Ambassador Mikami praised and thanked H.E. Mr.Steel for his contribution to the friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries since his appointment as Honorary Consul General of Japan in Flanders in 2010, drawing on his wealth of experience and contacts in Japan and abroad. In response, Mr. Steel expressed his gratitude, joy and sense of mission during his 15 years as Honorary Consul General. He also replied that he was grateful to all those who had honoured his achievements.

  The ceremony was followed by Countess, spouse of the former (first) President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, reading on his behalf a haiku (Japanese-style short poem) composed by H. E. Mr. Van Rompuy, who is Haiku ambassador appointed by Japan. (East and West together, The sun rises earlier with you, We share the same sun)
  In addition, Mr. Salvatore Adamo, who is very popular in Japan, played the guitar and sang in Japanese his hit songs, “Sans toi ma mie ” and “Tombe la neige” and congratulated Honorary Consul General Piet Steel on his decoration.