Latest news with #NapoleonIII
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
Bringing 'Cha' to the World: International Expositions and the 'Selling' of Japanese Tea
The prototype for today's international expositions, where countries from around the world showcase new products and their specialties and which provide opportunities for cultural exchanges and business talks, is said to be the Crystal Palace Exhibition in London in 1851. Scholars Yoshino Ako and Ido Kōichi explore Japan's participation in modern world's fairs, starting from the 1867 Paris Exposition through to the 1933–34 Chicago World's Fair. In Kindai banpaku to cha: Sekai ga odoroita Nihon no kissagaikō shi (Modern World Expositions and Tea: A History of Japan's Tea Diplomacy), the authors, who researched newspaper reports and other historical materials and visited former expo sites, provide a chronological rundown on the connection between these fairs and the spread of Japanese tea and tea culture. The Birth of Wakōcha Exports The Tokugawa shogunate sent a delegation from Japan, headed by Tokugawa Akitake, younger brother of shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu, to the 1867 Paris Exposition, organized by French emperor Napoleon III. Among the delegation's members were Shibusawa Eiichi, later known as the 'father of the Japanese capitalism,' and at the shōgun's request, representatives of the powerful domains of Satsuma and Saga. The book relates that the Japanese pavilion's tearoom created a sensation among Parisians and that the exhibit was awarded a silver medal by Napoleon III. Japanese tea was featured, marking the start of the relationship between ocha and world expositions. A photo from the book showing kimono-clad women at the Japanese pavilion's tearoom at the 1867 Paris Exposition. (© Album/Quintlox/Kyōdō) In 1873, Saga Prefecture exhibited kōcha , or black tea, at the Vienna World's Fair. While Japan's principal tea beverage was unfermented green tea, but authorities from Saga had learned at the 1867 Paris Exposition that black tea, created by fermenting tea leaves, was preferable for export to Europe. Subsequently, tea growers throughout Japan began producing wakōcha , black tea grown and produced in Japan, which, according to the authors, was a historic moment for the Japanese tea industry. Incidentally, Buddhist monk Baisaō (1675–1763), founder of senchadō variation of the Japanese tea ceremony distinguished by its use of green tea leaves rather than matcha , hailed from Saga, the birthplace of wakōcha . Introducing the 'Way of Tea' International expositions were also a way of introducing Japan's tea culture to the world. At the Centennial Exposition of 1876 in Philadelphia, held to mark the 100th anniversary of US independence, a list of exhibits contains three references to 'cha-no-yu.' The authors note in their book that this may be the first mention of sadō , the Japanese tea ceremony, in an official document. At the 1878 Paris Exposition, the Japanese pavilion included a tea house; a pamphlet in French explained the history of sadō . According to the book, industrialist, art collector, and founder of the Mitsui trading house Masuda Takashi (1848–1938) dispatched three carpenters from Japan to erect the structure. Later in life, Masuda became a tea ceremony master under the name Donnō. Okakura Kakuzō (or Tenshin, 1868–1913), best known for his The Book of Tea that was published in New York in 1906, acted as a presenter of Japan's tea culture at two world fairs. He wrote an explanatory pamphlet in English about the Hōōden tea house at the Japanese pavilion at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, and at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, he spoke on the artistic cachet of 'cha-no-yu.' Spotlight on Japanese Women Although featuring Japanese tea at world expositions first and foremost reflected the government's export promotion policy, tea also played a role in promoting Japanese culture, which is described in the book through the contributions of Japanese women. The Japanese pavilion's tearoom at the 1867 Paris Exposition, Japan's first world's fair, was attended by three geisha who had traveled to Paris for the occasion. At the time, the Japanese women were an object of fascination among the French public, and many people flocked to see them. At the Panama–Pacific International Exposition held in San Francisco in 1915, the Japanese pavilion featured a Japanese tearoom made of cypress that was attended by seven young 'tea girls' wearing kimono with long, flowing sleeves. A February 2, 1915, article in the local Japanese-language newspaper The Japanese American News reported on the women's arrival in San Francisco, describing them as 'well-educated young ladies from good families' that included the daughters of a high-ranking government official and of a navy admiral. At the 1933 Chicago World's Fair, 10 nisei (second-generation Japanese-American) women were hired to staff the Japanese pavilion's tearoom. They were also featured on picture postcards and in advertising materials for Japanese green tea. That fair also showcased the Rinkōtei tearoom, which was furnished with tables and chairs. The tearoom had been donated by Masuda to foster friendship between Japan and the United States. The tea was prepared by the 20-year-old daughter of a Japanese surgeon who had been sent from Japan for the occasion. Japanese Tea Presence Boosted at US World Fairs During the days of empire when the Western powers ruled the world, tea was an important international commodity. Green tea and semi-fermented oolong tea along with black tea grown in China and exported to Europe and North America dominated the market at the time. The British Empire, dependent on tea imports from China, fought back by setting up huge plantations for Assam black tea in its colonial territories of India and Ceylon (today Sri Lanka). Beginning in the late nineteenth century, when Japan established its own empire, green tea was exported mainly to the United States. In the aftermath of the first Sino-Japanese War (1894–95), Taiwan became a Japanese colony, and oolong and other teas from Taiwan were also exported to the United States via Japan. The book includes details about the Taiwan tearooms at the St. Louis, San Francisco, and Paris world expositions. Robert Hellyer, a researcher of the modern tea trade, also makes an appearance in the book. Hellyer is a descendant of the nineteenth-century founders of Hellyer & Company, a Nagasaki-based tea exporter that Hellyer mentions in his book Green with Milk and Sugar: When Japan Filled America's Tea Cups . In the work, Hellyer describes how Japanese green tea became popular in the US Midwest beginning in the late 1800s, so much so that it was called 'green tea country.' Hellyer believes that the world's fairs in the midwestern cities of St. Louis and Chicago helped raise awareness of green tea in the region. But this tea trade ended abruptly with Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. Japan lost its empire with its defeat in 1945, and the government's prewar ambitions of having Japanese tea take over global markets evaporated with it. Yoshino and Ido conclude their book by noting that Japanese tea exports have begun rising again. Japan has, of course, gone on to host six international expositions of its own, starting with the 1970 Osaka Expo, the first held in Asia. I have heard that many events at the current exposition, Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, also incorporate the concept of omotenashi hospitality embodied by sadō . The Playground of Life: Jellyfish Pavilion, especially, exemplifies the spirit of tea, and I am looking forward to new relationships emerging between Japanese tea and world expositions. Kindai banpaku to cha: Sekai ga odoroita Nihon no kissagaikō shi (Modern World Expositions and Tea: A History of Japan's Tea Diplomacy) By Yoshino Ako and Ido KōichiPublished by Tankōsha Publishing in February, 2025 ISBN: 978-4-473-04660-4
LeMonde
20-05-2025
- Politics
- LeMonde
France plans to build maximum-security prison in French Guiana, angering local officials
France plans to build a maximum-security prison wing for drug traffickers and Islamic militants near a former penal colony in French Guiana, sparking an outcry among residents and local officials. The wing would form part of a $450 million prison announced in 2017 that is expected to be completed by 2028 and hold 500 inmates. The prison would be built in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, a town bordering Suriname that once received prisoners shipped by Napoleon III in the 1800s, some of whom were sent to the notorious Devil's Island off the coast of French Guiana. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced plans to build the high-security wing during an official visit to French Guiana on Saturday, May 17. He said in a Facebook post that 15 of the wing's 60 spaces would be reserved for Islamic militants. Darmanin was quoted by Le Journal du Dimanche, a French weekly newspaper, as saying that the prison also aims to keep suspected drug traffickers from having any contact with their criminal networks. "We are seeing more and more drug trafficking networks," he told reporters in French Guiana. "We must react." The announcement angered many in French Guiana, an overseas French department located in South America. It was once an infamous colony known for holding French political prisoners, including Captain Alfred Dreyfus, who was wrongly convicted of being a spy and spent five years on Devil's Island, from 1894-1899. 'Astonishment and indignation' Jean-Paul Fereira, acting president of French Guiana's territorial collective, an assembly of 51 lawmakers that oversees local government affairs, said they were taken aback by the announcement since the plan to build a high-security wing was never discussed with them ahead of time. "It is therefore with astonishment and indignation that the elected members of the Collectivity discovered, together with the entire population of Guiana, the information detailed in Le Journal Du Dimanche," he wrote in a statement posted Sunday on social media. Fereira said the move was disrespectful and insulting, noting that the agreement French Guiana signed in 2017 was for the construction of a new prison meant to alleviate overpopulation at the main prison. "While all local elected officials have long been calling for strong measures to curb the rise of organized crime in our territory, Guiana is not meant to welcome criminals and radicalized people from (mainland France)," he wrote. Also decrying the plan was Jean-Victor Castor, a member of Parliament in French Guiana. He said he wrote directly to France's prime minister to express his concerns, noting that the decision was taken without consulting local officials. "It's an insult to our history, a political provocation and a colonial regression," Castor wrote in a statement issued Sunday as he called on France to withdraw the project.
Toronto Star
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
France's plan to build a maximum security prison wing in French Guiana angers local officials
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — France plans to build a maximum-security prison wing for drug traffickers and Islamic militants near a former penal colony in French Guiana, sparking an outcry among residents and local officials. The wing would form part of a $450 million prison announced in 2017 that is expected to be completed by 2028 and hold 500 inmates. The prison would be built in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, a town bordering Suriname that once received prisoners shipped by Napoleon III in the 1800s, some of whom were sent to the notorious Devil's Island off the coast of French Guiana.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
France's plan to build a maximum security prison wing in French Guiana angers local officials
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — France plans to build a maximum-security prison wing for drug traffickers and Islamic militants near a former penal colony in French Guiana, sparking an outcry among residents and local officials. The wing would form part of a $450 million prison announced in 2017 that is expected to be completed by 2028 and hold 500 inmates. The prison would be built in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, a town bordering Suriname that once received prisoners shipped by Napoleon III in the 1800s, some of whom were sent to the notorious Devil's Island off the coast of French Guiana. French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced plans to build the high-security wing during an official visit to French Guiana on Saturday. He said in a Facebook post that 15 of the wing's 60 spaces would be reserved for Islamic militants. Darmanin was quoted by Le Journal du Dimanche, a French weekly newspaper, as saying that the prison also aims to keep suspected drug traffickers from having any contact with their criminal networks. 'We are seeing more and more drug trafficking networks,' he told reporters in French Guiana. 'We must react.' The announcement angered many across French Guiana, an overseas French department located in South America. It was once an infamous colony known for holding French political prisoners, including Army Capt. Alfred Dreyfus, who was accused of being a spy. Dreyfus was incarcerated on Devil's Island, a penal colony that operated for a century and was featured in the best-selling French novel 'Papillon,' which later was made into two movies. Jean-Paul Fereira, acting president of French Guiana's territorial collective, an assembly of 51 lawmakers that oversees local government affairs, said they were taken aback by the announcement since the plan to build a high-security wing was never discussed with them ahead of time. 'It is therefore with astonishment and indignation that the elected members of the Collectivity discovered, together with the entire population of Guiana, the information detailed in Le Journal Du Dimanche,' he wrote in a statement posted Sunday on social media. Fereira said the move was disrespectful and insulting, noting that the agreement French Guiana signed in 2017 was for the construction of a new prison meant to alleviate overpopulation at the main prison. 'While all local elected officials have long been calling for strong measures to curb the rise of organized crime in our territory, Guiana is not meant to welcome criminals and radicalized people from (mainland France),' he wrote. Also decrying the plan was Jean-Victor Castor, a member of Parliament in French Guiana. He said he wrote directly to France's prime minister to express his concerns, noting that the decision was taken without consulting local officials. 'It's an insult to our history, a political provocation and a colonial regression,' Castor wrote in a statement issued Sunday as he called on France to withdraw the project. A spokesperson for France's justice minister did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. ____ Follow AP's coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at
Hamilton Spectator
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
France's plan to build a maximum security prison wing in French Guiana angers local officials
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — France plans to build a maximum-security prison wing for drug traffickers and Islamic militants near a former penal colony in French Guiana, sparking an outcry among residents and local officials. The wing would form part of a $450 million prison announced in 2017 that is expected to be completed by 2028 and hold 500 inmates. The prison would be built in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, a town bordering Suriname that once received prisoners shipped by Napoleon III in the 1800s, some of whom were sent to the notorious Devil's Island off the coast of French Guiana. French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced plans to build the high-security wing during an official visit to French Guiana on Saturday. He said in a Facebook post that 15 of the wing's 60 spaces would be reserved for Islamic militants. Darmanin was quoted by Le Journal du Dimanche, a French weekly newspaper, as saying that the prison also aims to keep suspected drug traffickers from having any contact with their criminal networks. 'We are seeing more and more drug trafficking networks,' he told reporters in French Guiana. 'We must react.' The announcement angered many across French Guiana, an overseas French department located in South America. It was once an infamous colony known for holding French political prisoners, including Army Capt. Alfred Dreyfus, who was accused of being a spy. Dreyfus was incarcerated on Devil's Island, a penal colony that operated for a century and was featured in the best-selling French novel 'Papillon,' which later was made into two movies. Jean-Paul Fereira, acting president of French Guiana's territorial collective, an assembly of 51 lawmakers that oversees local government affairs, said they were taken aback by the announcement since the plan to build a high-security wing was never discussed with them ahead of time. 'It is therefore with astonishment and indignation that the elected members of the Collectivity discovered, together with the entire population of Guiana, the information detailed in Le Journal Du Dimanche,' he wrote in a statement posted Sunday on social media. Fereira said the move was disrespectful and insulting, noting that the agreement French Guiana signed in 2017 was for the construction of a new prison meant to alleviate overpopulation at the main prison. 'While all local elected officials have long been calling for strong measures to curb the rise of organized crime in our territory, Guiana is not meant to welcome criminals and radicalized people from (mainland France),' he wrote. Also decrying the plan was Jean-Victor Castor, a member of Parliament in French Guiana. He said he wrote directly to France's prime minister to express his concerns, noting that the decision was taken without consulting local officials. 'It's an insult to our history, a political provocation and a colonial regression,' Castor wrote in a statement issued Sunday as he called on France to withdraw the project. A spokesperson for France's justice minister did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. ____ Follow AP's coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at
