From 5 to 11 June 2025, Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium and His Royal Highness Prince Lorenz undertook an official visit to Japan, highlighting the enduring friendship between the two nations. Their visit underlined the depth of Belgium’s engagement with Japan, whose relations date back over 150 years, both at Expo 2025 Osaka and beyond.
A highlight of the visit was the royal couple’s presence at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, where they visited both the Belgian Pavilion and the Japanese Pavilion. At the Belgian Pavilion, Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz were welcomed by the Commissioner General, Pieter De Crem, and members of the BelExpo team. Their visit shone a spotlight on Belgium’s innovative contributions to the Expo’s theme, “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” and its national sub-theme, “Human Regeneration".
On 9 June, Their Royal Highnesses joined the Belgian Food & Drinks Week, organized by BelExpo and Fevia, celebrating Belgium’s world-renowned culinary excellence. Their participation emphasized the diplomatic and economic importance of Belgian know-how in the global agri-food industry and symbolized the bridge between Belgium’s tradition and Japan’s appreciation for quality and craftsmanship.
Beyond the Expo, Their Royal Highnesses also travelled to Nagasaki, where they paid tribute at the Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park.and before their visit to the expo they were also warmly welcomed by the Japanese Emperial Family in Tokyo.
The visit of Their Royal Highnesses was both a diplomatic milestone and a moment of national pride for the Belgian pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka reaffirming Belgium’s dedication to building lasting partnerships with Japan, rooted in shared values of peace, progress, and mutual respect.
