Urban stroll: Japan sketched by Florent Chavouet at the Maison de la Culture du Japon

Lovers of Japanese art and culture have a date at the Maison de la Culture du Japon. The cultural center, located in Paris's 15th arrondissement, is opening its doors toFlorent Chavouet from December 2, 2025, to January 10, 2026. For six weeks, come and discover the sketches of this French author, illustrator, and avid traveler, free of charge.

Passionate about the Land of the Rising Sun, the illustrator has been visiting regularly since 2004. He has produced travel journals from these trips and publishedTokyo Sanpo(2009), "Manabé Shima" (2010, winner of the Pierre Loti prize at the Angoulême festival in 2011), and "Petites coupures à Shioguni," winner of the Fauve polar d'Angoulême prize in 2015.

From December 2, 2025, to January 10, 2026, the Maison de la Culture du Japon invites us to admire his drawings in a unique exhibition simply titled "Balade urbaine, le Japon croqué par Florent Chavouet" (Urban Stroll: Japan Sketched by Florent Chavouet). Through some thirty works (original plates, sketches, drawings, and notebooks), the illustrator immerses us in the vibrant or peaceful urban environments of Japan.

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Here you can see futuristic buildings, wooden shacks, small neighborhood police stations, and more. Florent Chavouet invites us to see the city through his eyes. We appreciate his attention to detail and his use of subtle and contrasting colors. We linger longer over his original illustrations from "Tokyo Sanpo - Promenades à Tôkyô" and his large drawings highlighting key neighborhoods and locations in the Japanese capital, such as "Takadanobaba," "Shinjuku East," and "Omotesandō."

Ultimately, the installation "Balade urbaine, le Japon croqué par Florent Chavouet" (Urban stroll, Japansketched by Florent Chavouet) offers us a beautiful insight into the complexity and beauty of Japanese urban spaces. The exhibition is small and can be viewed quickly. But if you love illustrations, we recommend taking your time and admiring Florent Chavouet's drawings in minute detail. 

Please note that the exhibition, which is free to visit, can be found in the lobby on the ground floor of the Maison de la Culture du Japon.