Japanese culture can be enjoyed here and there in Paris, through secret places and locations packed with history. At the corner of a street or in a relaxing garden, Japan comes to the French capital city along with a certain idea of relaxation and calm.
Links between Paris and Japan go back to the second half of the 19 th century, when Japanism β this poetic cultural movement β influences the greatest French artists, from Monet to Van Gogh to Degas and Debussy , drawing inspiration in Japanese etchings. As an outcome, a period of Japanese emulsion in Paris , with the opening of many stores, grocery stores, bookstores and restaurants.
The Hanami season is the perfect occasion in spring to discover cherry blossoms and their poetic and ephemeral white and pink colors , and discover the Japanese heritage and locations in Paris. Covering 7,sqm, the Maison de la Culture du Japon includes several movie theaters, a library filled with 20, books in French, Japanese and English devoted to Japanese culture, and a video library with videocassette tapes.
All year around, the center provides a cultural program shining a light on traditional and contemporary performing arts, Japanese cinema , the art of ikebana , the art of origami , the art of calligraphy , learning Japanese, as well as manga and martial arts , through workshops and introductory classes as well as courses open to small and grown-up curious.
As for the tea ceremony, it is shown in a traditional tea pavilion made of wood , tatami and fusuma. One can discover about 11, Japanese pieces of work from the birth of Japanese art, under the Meiji era. The museum now houses the greatest Asian art collection outside Asia. Etchings , sculptures , silk paintings, china ceramics, enamels , screens from the 16 th to the 19 th centuries, as many historic works of art unveiled in the museum, hiding another surprise outside we will explain later.
