Claudel, cette figure littéraire aux multiples facettes. Traductions des œuvres de Claudel au Japon

Paul Claudel’s work was first introduced to Japan in 1913 mainly as a reformer of poetry. After the First World War, in the context of growing patriotism in Japan, he was regarded as a traditionalist literary figure. But when he arrived in Japan in 1921 as French ambassador, Claudel was seen as someone who understood and presented Japan to the international community. Through his exchanges with intellectuals, poets, painters and actors (Yoshio Yamanouchi, Keisen Tomita, Seiho Takeuchi…), Claudel published remarkable essays on Japanese culture. His image as an interpreter of Japan has endured through the Second World War and into the present day. In a sense, Claudel was a mirror reflecting Japan.