Why was Belgium interested in receiving this mission? One reason is of course emulation. In internal
correspondence of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, one comes across arguments to the effect that, since
other European countries have received the Japanese with pomp and circumstance, Belgium could do no
less. Apart from that, the motive was first and foremost economic, arguably more so than for the other
countries, for whom matters of hegemony, international prestige and influence or historical ties played a
stronger role than they did for Belgium.