The French Embassy, Tokyo, is the chief diplomatic mission of France in Japan. Since September 2020, its ambassador has been .
History The first embassy was established in Iidabashi near the Imperial Palace. It was cramped and was damaged by the aftershocks from an earthquake that shook Tokyo in 1922 and 1923.
The embassy was then moved to the exclusive district of Minami-Azabu. The buildings were destroyed during Allied bombing at the end of World War II. It was not until 1972 that the French State acquired the land.
French community As of December 31, 2016, there were 9,722 French nationals registered with the embassy. As of December 31, 2014, 7,561 registrants were distributed between two constituencies: Tokyo (6,055) and Kyoto (1,506). The French community in Japan consists mainly of executives or managers of companies, artisans, creators, teachers and researchers.
Recent ambassadors of France to Japan
From To Ambassador 1966 1972 Louis de Guiringaud 1972 1975 François Lefebvre de Laboulaye 1975 1977 Jean-Pierre Brunet 1977 1979 Louis Dauge 1979 1982 Xavier Daufresne de La Chevalerie 1982 1985 1985 1987 1987 1991 Bernard Dorin 1991 1993 Loïc Hennekinne 1993 1998 Jean-Bernard Ouvrieu 1998 2002 Maurice Gourdault-Montagne 2002 2006 Bernard Faubournet de Montferrand 2006 2007 Gildas Le Lidec 2007 2011 Philippe Faure 2011 2014 Christian Masset 2014 2017 Thierry Dana 2017 2020 Laurent PicDécret du 20 avril 2017, JORF No. 95 du 22 avril 2017, texte No. 51, NOR MAEA1706317D. 2020 to present Décret du 30 septembre 2020 portant nomination d'un ambassadeur extraordinaire et plénipotentiaire de la République française au Japon - M. SETTON (Philippe) - Légifrance
Access The embassy is a 7-minute walk from exit 3 of Hiroo Station on the Hibiya Line operated by Tokyo Metro.
See also
Japan–France relations List of Ambassadors of France to Japan List of diplomatic missions of France List of diplomatic missions in Japan French people in Japan
References