{
  "id": 840975,
  "title": "Brussels flower carpet pays homage to Hokusai’s ‘Great Wave’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/brussels-flower-carpet-pays-homage-to-hokusais-great-wave",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-14T05:07:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Japan Times",
    "slug": "japan-times",
    "url": "https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/08/14/japan/brussels-flower-carpet-hokusai/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Brussels hosted a floral spectacle on Thursday, commemorating the 160th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Japan and Belgium. The Grand-Place, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was transformed into a sea of 750,000 dahlias arranged in the pattern of Hokusai’s renowned \"Under the Wave off Kanagawa,\" or \"The Great Wave.\" The massive flower carpet, measuring 70 meters by 24 meters, was the creation of Japanese artist Hiro Sugiyama and his team, who aimed to offer a modern interpretation of the iconic Edo period masterpiece (1603-1867). Throughout the four-day event, nightly sound and light displays illuminated the floral waves, creating a mesmerizing ambiance. The biennial summer event typically draws about 200,000 visitors from around the globe, making this year's occurrence a prime opportunity to showcase the enduring friendship between Japan and Belgium on an international stage.",
  "summary": "Some 750,000 dahlias are arranged in the design of the iconic work at an event to mark 160 years of diplomatic relations between Japan and Belgium.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}