Japanese Ambassador Visits UCLouvain’s Unique Collection

Here I’m showing H.E. Ambassador Osuga a remarkable illustration from Edo meisho zue, an illustrated guidebook that records Edo's famous places and products in both text and illustration.

On 17 February, we had the distinct honor of welcoming H.E. Ambassador Osuga of Japan to UCLouvain during his visit to both UCLouvain and KU Leuven.

At UCLouvain, the Ambassador explored the remarkable Japanese Donation of more than 3,100 early printed books, dating from the 12th to the early 20th century. This extraordinary Donation — offered by Japan in the 1920s to support the rebuilding of the university library after its destruction during World War I — is today preserved and managed by UCLouvain. It stands as a lasting symbol of solidarity and cultural exchange between Japan and Belgium.

I had the privilege of providing a detailed presentation of the donation and offering in-depth insights into several of its most significant works, highlighting their historical context and scholarly importance. It was a pleasure to showcase the richness of this unique heritage and to contribute to strengthening the academic and cultural ties that continue to connect our institutions.

This visit was a powerful reminder that cultural heritage is not only preserved in archives — it is actively shared, studied, and brought to life.