We are currently building up our collection of books, magazines and other documents from the last four centuries, on the historical relations between France and Japan. The oldest works include French descriptions of Japan from the 18th century. These played an important role in the perception of Japan throughout Europe.

The current stock includes writings from the Japonisme literary movement that was widespread in France in the second half of the 19th century. These include first editions of Pierre Loti's Madame Chrysanthemum (1888).

The holdings also include early Japanese reports about France from the second half of the 19th century. The influence of Japan on various areas of design is shown by recent studies, for example on the architect Charlotte Perriand (who was responsible for the design of a lounger usually attributed to Charles-Édouard Le Corbusier).

Another set of holdings - photos, reports and newspaper and magazine articles - illustrates the work of Japanese nurses in Paris at the beginning of the First World War.

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