Japan-France Relations
- The "Japan Cultural Institute in Paris" opened in May 1997, and, since then, is utilized as a place to introduce Japanese culture, promote Japanese language and implement dialogue between Japan and France or Europe.
- Exchanges in academic domains are also expanding such as concluding about 700 France-Japan inter-university agreements, implementing various programs in the field of student exchange, etc. With the popularity of pop culture, Japanese language learners are also increasing (about 19,000 people in 2012).
- Japanese publications are popular, with Japan becoming the honorary guest country during the "Salon du Livre" in France in 2012, the biggest book exhibition where 20 Japanese writers were invited and participated to various lecture events.
- 48 France-Japan friendship associations have been registered in December 2015, conducting services aiming Japanese culture spread and Franco-Japanese cultural exchange all over France. After the Great East Japan Earthquake, various organizations, including France-Japan friendship associations, conducted various charity events and cultural exchange activities.
- Every year, in July, is held in Paris the "Japan expo", world's largest private sponsorship event introducing Japanese culture, an event that gathered about 250,000 people in 2015. (MOFA)
Additionally, the Year of France event from May 1997 to March 1999 had more than 400 events celebrating everything French in Japan. Interestingly, a replica of the Statue of Liberty was erected in Tokyo for the event.