France–Japan relations

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Franco-Japanese relations
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The history of relations between France and Japan goes back to the early 17th century, when a Japanese samurai and ambassador on his way to Rome landed for a few days in Saint-Tropez and created a sensation. France and Japan have enjoyed a very robust and progressive relationship spanning centuries through various contacts in each other's countries by senior representatives, strategic efforts, and cultural exchanges.

Contents

Chronology of Franco-Japanese relations

17th–18th centuries

17th-century account of Hasekura's visit to France Hasekura Tsunenaga Portrait by Raphael Sadeler II 1615.png
17th-century account of Hasekura's visit to France

19th century

French family in Yokohama, 1861 Frans echtpaar met dochter Ikiutsushi Furansujin no zu (titel op object) Een levensechte afbeelding van Fransen, RP-P-2012-103-18.jpg
French family in Yokohama, 1861
The First Japanese Embassy to Europe, in 1862 Bunkyu Japanese Embassy to Europe Matsudaira Takenouchi Kyogoku Shibata 1862.png
The First Japanese Embassy to Europe, in 1862
Leonce Verny directed the construction of Japan's first modern arsenal at Yokosuka from 1865. YokosukaConstruction.jpg
Leonce Verny directed the construction of Japan's first modern arsenal at Yokosuka from 1865.
The first French military mission to Japan in 1867. Jules Brunet in front, second from right. Members of French Military Mission to Japan in 1867.png
The first French military mission to Japan in 1867. Jules Brunet in front, second from right.
The first automobile in Japan, a French Panhard-Levassor, in 1898 Japan1898Panhard.jpg
The first automobile in Japan, a French Panhard-Levassor, in 1898

20th century

Franco-Japanese relations today

In June 1996, in Lyon, as part of the G7 summit which took place thanks to the crucial role played by the Consul General of Japan, Louis Michallet, Ryutaro Hashimoto and Jacques Chirac decided to organize "The Year of Japan in France", from April 1997 to March 1998 in order to correct the superficial and sometimes inaccurate understanding of Japanese culture. [11] The start of that year coincided with the inauguration of the House of Culture of Japan in Paris. "The Year of France in Japan" followed "the Year of Japan", the combination of these two events inaugurating Franco-Japanese relations for the 21st century. [12]

In June 2005, France and Japan announced a collaboration to build the next generation supersonic commercial aircraft, a successor to the Concorde. Commercial service is not expected until 2050. [13] [14]

Laurent Fabius, French Foreign Minister, met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as a courtesy call during a visit to Japan from 5 October to 6 October 2014. [15] The meeting included Abe expressing his condolences for the ISIL beheading of French backpacker Hervé Gourdel and both agreed on future meetings on defense cooperation and tackling global warming. [16]

Today many parts of Japanese pop culture such as manga and anime have become very popular among French people. [17] [18]

Nuclear collaborations

The two countries have been collaborating closely in the area of fission energy generation. In September 2013, two years after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan has officially accepted help from France for the decommission and dismantle of Fukushima's reactors. [19] Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, a Japanese corporation and France's Areva began cooperating on constructing a nuclear reactor in Turkey in 2013. [20]

On 3 May 2023 French Minister for Energy Transition Agnes Pannier-Runacher and Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura Yasutoshi signed an agreement to develop sodium-cooled fast reactors. [21] [22]

French in Japan

Japanese in France

Multilateral organizations

Both nations are members of the United Nations, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, G7 and G20 major economies, World Trade Organization, and among others.

Resident diplomatic missions

See also

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References

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  10. "Statue illumination kicks off 'Year of France' event". The Japan Times. 28 April 1998. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  11. "Louis Michallet".
  12. Yamata, Kikou (1998). Le mois sans dieux. 5, rue Bugeaud 69005 Lyon: Jacques Andre Editeur. pp. 1–11. Foreword and prefaces. ISBN   2-907922-61-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  13. Zaun, Todd (June 16, 2005), France and Japan hope Concorde's successor is in the wings, N.Y. Times, retrieved 2014-08-01
  14. EADS reveals hypersonic successor to Concorde, France 24, 2011-06-20, retrieved 2014-08-01
  15. "Courtesy Call on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe by H.E. Mr. Laurent Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, France". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. 5 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
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  18. "Europe's biggest manga launch: France prints 250,000 copies of One Piece's 100th edition". Euronews . 7 December 2021.
  19. "Japan to accept help from France at Fukushima Daiichi". 25 September 2013. Archived from the original on 20 July 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  20. "Japan, France to enhance nuclear, defense relations". Hurriyet Daily News. The Associated Press. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  21. Hernandez, America (3 May 2023). "France, Japan sign nuclear partnership deal". SaltWire Network. Reuters.
  22. Mochizuki, Takashi (2 May 2023). "Japan, France to Cooperate to Develop Next-Gen Nuclear Reactors: Sankei". Bloomberg.

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