Past and present
The carillon art in Japan originated in 1984, with the installation of the mobile carillon ‘Belgian Bells’ at the Belgium-Flanders Exchange Center in Osaka, in conjunction with a carillon educational program, designed by Belgian musicologist Robert Vliegen.
In 1985, Itamy city, the neighboring city of Itami and the city of Hasselt in Belgium signed an international sister city agreement. Five years later, upon the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Itami municipal administration system, Hasselt donated a carillon to the Japanese city. In exchange, the city of Itami donated a Japanese garden to the city of Hasselt. The carillon was inaugurated on November 9, 1990. It was named ‘Bells of Flanders’, after the location of Hasselt, Flanders. A plaque next to the keyboard imparts a message of peace from Hasselt to Itami.
The carillon is played several times a year. The most important yearly event is a concert on 15 August, commemorating the end of the Second World War.
Facts and figures
| Number of bells | 43 |
| Total weight of the bells | 1878 kg |
| Weight of the bourdon | 375 kg |
| Pitch of bourdon | b flat, connected to b flat in the keyboard |
| Bell-founder | Koninklijke Eijsbouts (1990) |
| Manual playing system | mechanical baton-type keyboard |
| Automatic playing system | There is one but not in use (defect) |
| Carillonneur | Freelance carillonneurs |
| Regular recitals | June, November, December |
| Summer concerts | 15 August (Peace Bell Concert) |
| Accessibility of the tower | no |
Significant inscription
Moge deze beiaard uit Hasselt blijvende vrede melden aan haar zusterstad Itami. 9 november 1990
(May this carillon from Hasselt proclaim lasting peace to its sister city Itami. November 9, 1990)