Lecture by Dr. Nanae Baldauff, Senior Associate Fellow, NATO Defense College, Ghent Institute for International and European Studies, Ghent University

“Japan-Europe relations in a shifting world order: defense, technology, and industry”

Intro to the lecture:   
The lecture will focus on Japan’s re-engagement with Belgium and Europe from the perspective of defense, technology, and industry. Against the backdrop of the current tumultuous geopolitical landscape, this lecture will provide insight to how we can better appreciate Japan-Europe relations in these key defining sectors, including both opportunities and challenges.

Sint-Baafshuis, Biezekapelstraat 2

10-02-2026 12:00 - 14:00

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Lectures by Prof. Anna Andreeva and Prof. Andreas Niehaus Institute of Japanese Studies, Faculty of Arts and Philosophy, Ghent University 

“Japanese-Belgium/ Ghent relations”

“Japanese art objects in Belgium”

Intro to the lecture:
In the first part of this lecture, Prof. Dr. Andreas Niehaus will talk about the history of Belgium-Japanese relations, especially focusing on the fruitful exchange between Ghent and Kanazawa. Rich historic and contemporary relations between Japan and Belgium, especially, Ghent, reveal many interesting facts that deserve broader public attention. For example, Belgian museums have ample collections of Japanese art and material objects, many of which still remain unstudied. In this part of the lecture, Prof. Dr. Anna Andreeva, will talk about the most significant finds and recent studies of Japanese religious art and diplomatic gifts preserved in the museum collections at the Royal  Museum of Art and History in Brussels, the Royal Museum of Mariemont, and Ghent University Museum.

Sint-Baafshuis, Biezekapelstraat 2

03-03-2026 12:00 - 14:00

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Lecture by Dr. Hera Van Sande, Archipel 

“The power of spatial poetics in Japan and Flanders”

Intro to the lecture:
Much has been written about Japan's influence on Western architecture. In any case, it is a fact that the magic of Japanese architecture, both traditional and contemporary, has captivated us for decades. We take a look behind the scenes and try to discover why it is so different and why the space feels so poetic. Starting from tradition and the Japanese attitude to life, we explore the evolution of architecture in Japan and see how that philosophy is permeating Flanders.

Sint-Baafshuis, Biezekapelstraat 2

24-03-2026 12:00 - 14:00

81

Lecture by Prof. Dr. Luk Van Haute, Faculty of Arts and Philosophy, Ghent University 

“Watching Japanese Cinema in Belgium: Some Personal Reflections Through the Ages”

Intro to the lecture:
Luk Van Haute saw his first Japanese films as a student in the early eighties, in a theatre in Ghent called Studio Skoop, where the walls left and right were lined with big stills from Akira Kurosawa’s The Seven Samurai. By the end of the decade, he was working in the Japanese film world himself. This lecture looks at several figures, locations and events that played a key role in the distribution and reception of Japanese cinema in Belgium during the past fifty years.

Sint-Baafshuis, Biezekapelstraat 2

21-04-2026 12:00 - 14:00

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Lecture by:
- Mr. Johan Bil, senior business developer, science park team, TechTransfer Ghent University
- Mr. Laurent Van Thornout, Deputy General Manager EMEA Development Center at Daikin Europe
- Dr. Jasper Van Hoorick, CEO and co-founder Bio INX

“Tech Lane Ghent Science Park: ambitions and collaboration with Japan”

Intro to the lecture:
Mr. Laurent Van Thorhout, Deputy General Manager EMEA Development Center at Daikin Europe will speak on behalf of Daikin, as a Japanese company, about their activities on Tech Lane and the collaboration with Ghent University. 
Dr. Jasper Van Hoorick, CEO and co-founder Bio INX, a spin-off of Ghent University, is working with a Japanese company, Yamato, for distribution in Japan (https://bioinx.com/news/bio-inx-and-yamato-scientific-announce-strategic-partnership-distribution-japan) and will tell us a bit more about this collaboration. 
This lecture will thus highlight 2 aspects: the company at Techlane in Ghent, but also the collaboration in itself from Tech Lane with Japan.

Sint-Baafshuis, Biezekapelstraat 2

05-05-2026 12:00 - 14:00

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