Japonismes Festival visitors top 3 million in France

February 21, 2019

Paris--At least three million people have visited Japonismes 2018 in France since the festival to promote Japanese culture started in July last year, its organizer revealed Wednesday.

At a reception in Paris, Japanese Ambassador to France Masato Kitera said the festival helped deepen French people's understanding of Japan.

Jack Lang, former French culture minister, said the festival was a wonderful gift for France. It opened new doors for French people who had not been familiar with Japanese culture, he said.

Hiroyasu Ando, secretary-general of the festival's secretariat and president of the Japan Foundation, stressed the importance of continuing cultural exchanges between the two countries.

The festival, which marks the 160th anniversary last year of the conclusion of the Japan-France Treaty of Amity and Commerce, is scheduled to end at the end of February.

As part of the festival, some 100 events, include those featuring Japanese plays, movies and paintings, were held in Paris and other parts of France. Jiji Press