Why is the Japanese Tower in Brussels still closed? That’s a question many ask. This magnificent structure a Japanese pagoda stands tall in Laeken. King Leopold II commissioned its construction between 1900 and 1904. He was inspired by the Paris Exposition of 1900. The French architect Alexandre Marcel designed it.
The tower’s construction is a fascinating blend of cultures. Belgian craftsmen initially avoided nails using traditional Japanese techniques. Marcel insisted on nails and wooden braces. He incorporated Japanese and European methods. The interior decorations came mostly from Maison Reynaud a Yokohama art dealer. The result is a unique blend of architectural styles. Few places in Japan boast a similar combination.
Inside the Japanese Tower are six chambers connected by a stairwell. The stairwell features kinkarakawa-gami panels. These are surrounded by aventurine a European imitation of the Japanese nashiji technique. Each floor boasts stunning decoration. The first floor showcases a polychrome depiction of the Urashima Taro legend. The second floor known as the Green or Golden Floor is adorned with aventurine on wide lacquered panels. It originally featured a ceiling depicting women and a landscape. This is now in the Brussels Art & History Museum.
The third floor is rich in nashiji decorations. It has an animal-themed ceiling with remarkable openwork reliefs of dragons. The fourth floor nicknamed the Red Floor has red lacquered panels. It also has a large Japanese painting. The fifth floor features animals like lions and monkeys. Its ceiling is decorated with Art Nouveau canvas paintings. This top floor offers a panoramic view. Sadly many of these stunning details are currently unseen by the public.
The Japanese Tower and the nearby Chinese Pavilion were originally meant to house important art collections. After Leopold II’s death in 1909 the museum plan was abandoned. The buildings were open to the public until World War I. They were closed again during World War II and from 1947 to 1989. A 2010 study revealed important ornamental schemes including Japanese lacquer. International experts confirmed the tower’s value and importance. Yet despite restoration efforts structural weaknesses led to closure in 2013. As of 2022 the Federal Government decided not to reopen it. The Japanese Tower remains a closed mystery a testament to a bygone era of cultural exchange. A symbol of both beauty and unrealized potential.