抄録
L'action de Paul Claudel dans le domaine culturel, durant son ambassade au Japon (1921-1927), est bien connue. Son nom est etroitement associe a la creation de la Maison franco-japonaise (1924) et de l'Institut franco-japonais du Kansai (1927). Sa correspondance diplomatique montre pourtant un ambassadeur plus soucieux de renforcer les echanges commerciaux entre la France et le Japon, via l'Indochine notamment, que de contribuer a un hypothetique rayonnement culturel ou de promouvoir la diffusion de la langue francaise. Le reseau culturel francais au Japon est-il ne d'un malentendu ? Les commentaires de Claudel sur la place des etudes francaises en terre nippone, ses ambitions declarees, les comptes-rendus de ses missions et les discours officiels prononces durant cette periode nous permettent d'apporter quelques elements de reponse a cette question. The work of Paul Claudel in the cultural field, during his embassy in Japan (1921-1927), is well known. His name is closely associated with the creation of la Maison franco-japonaise (1924) and the Franco-Japanese Institute of Kansai (1927). His diplomatic correspondence shows, however, an ambassador more keen to strengthen trade between France and Japan, particularly through Indochina, than to contribute to an hypothetical cultural influence or promote the spread of the French language. Was the French cultural network in Japan born of a misunderstanding? Claudel's comments on the role of French studies in Japan, his stated ambitions, the reports of his missions and official speeches during this period allow us to bring some elements to answer this question.
