Lyon City Blog 

Keywords : Japan, japanese, french, silk industry, lyon , yokohama, universal exhibition of paris, pierre loti, madame chrysanthème, french expatriates

In the 1860s the French expatriates stayed in Yokohama harbor which was a new place for the French business men. 

The silk workers of Lyon  (les soyeux de Lyon ) came in Japan to buy the Japanese local seeds that could resist the pébrine that was a disease of the silkworms in order to save their silk industry (l'industrie de la soie). Although the silk industry in Lyon mainly depended on the Japanese silk of much better quality, it remained the first silk industry in the world. A new silk road (une nouvelle route de la soie) was created between Lyon and Yokohama in 1859. 
In Japan, the French expatriates formed one fifth of the population. 

The French silk industry and the Chamber of Commerce of Lyon  (la Chambre de commerce de Lyon ) pressured on the government of Napoleon III to set up a cooperation system between France and Japan.
At the same time, the French and the English languages were taught in the Japanese schools. Some students even became converts to Christianity in order to improve their knowledge of the French culture.

During the Universal Exhibition of Paris  (l'Exposition universelle de Paris ) in 1867, the French discovered the Japanese traditions, arts and culture, especially the engravings and the Japans. 
In addition, many French writers wrote about the Japanese culture like Madame Chrystanthème by Pierre Loti in 1885.

Today, the French are fond of the Japanese cuisine, teas, food products like the noodles, the Bento boxes… (see Lyon-Japan Cultural Center in Lyon)

Articles on similar themes:

• How to Write a Motivation Letter in French - 09/01/10
• Lyon-Japan Cultural Center in Lyon - 31/12/09
• The Nostradamus Prophecies at the Municipal Library of Lyon - 25/02/10
• Child Care in Lyon - 12/02/10
• The Silk Workshop of the Atelier de Soierie in Lyon - 04/02/10
• The Tale of the City of Lights. Chapter IV - 30/12/09
• France and Japan Diplomatic Relations - 30/12/09
• The Tale of The City of Lights. Chapter I - 17/12/09
• How to Fight Obesity in France? - 11/11/09
• The Stereotypes about the French - 07/11/09

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