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Christian Phillipe Polak (born August 1950) is a French doctor of laws, businessman, and author, who has been described as "the best specialist" and "an expert" in the history of Franco-Japanese relations.

Career

Born in Nogaro, Polak graduated from the Department of Japanese studies at INALCO, Paris, in 1971. The same year, he entered the Language Department at Waseda University. In 1973, he entered the Law Department at Hitotsubashi University. In 1980, Polak wrote his doctoral thesis on the diplomatic relations between France and Japan from 1914 to 1925.

After writing his thesis Polak founded the Société d’Etudes et de Recherches Industrielles et Commerciales (K.K. SERIC), providing advice and support to foreign businesses in areas of metallurgy, aeronautics, automobiles, and the environment. Polak has continued academic and research activities at the same time. He teaches at Chuo University and Rissho University and publishes on the subject of Franco-Japanese relations. With Tomohiko Taniguchi, the Deputy Press Secretary to Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Polak contributed lead essays to the July 2003 Gaiko Forum, a foreign-affairs journal published by Toshi Shuppan.

Polak is also President of the Franco-Japanese Association of Kanagawa, and was nominated by the French government as "consultant for the foreign trade of France" in 2002. He received the Medal of the Ordre national du Mérite (Chevalier on Septembre 29, 1989, then Officer on April 30, 2002).

Referenced works

Hiroshi Ueki called Polak "a recognized historian of Franco-Japanese relations as well as an accomplished businessman". Polak has written several books on the interaction between France and Japan from the Bakumatsu period around 1858, when both coutries opened diplomatic relations. Soie et Lumieres (2001) described the interaction between Japan's silk trade and France's exports of technology, and Sabre et Pinceau (2005) the military and artistic relations of the two countries. He has documented extensively the various French military missions to Japan (1867-1868, 1872-1880, 1884-1889, 1918-1919), and especially the life of the French adventurer Jules Brunet, as well as the involvement of various French engineers and traders in the development of the country (Emile Bertin, Léonce Verny).

His collaboration with Soichiro Honda on Honda's biography was noted for its coverage of Honda's battles with Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry over the introduction of the kei car into the Japanese automobile industry.

Polak's works are referenced in various books and publications dealing with Franco-Japanese relations and in Japanese-language publications. Polak also has written on various artists who played a role in Franco-Japanese relations, such as in his book on painter Paul Jacoulet. The Japan Times calls him a Jacoulet expert.

According to the Monthly Letter of the French Chamber of Commerce in Japan:

"In parallel to his professional activities, Christian Polak cultivates his taste and his knowledge of History, as a professor and a researcher. His assiduous studies gave birth to two sublime books, Soie et lumiere and Sabre et pinceau. Thanks to these two books, people with amazing destinies find the light again, such as Jules Brunet: this officer, member of the French military mission, sent to Japan as an artillery instructor, joined, after the defeat of the Shogun, the rebellion against Imperial troops, serving as an inspiration for the hero of the Last Samurai."

— Monthly Letter of the French Chamber of Commerce in Japan, p.9 "Diner des sempais en compagnie de M.Christian Polak.

Books and publications

• Polak, Christian (1977). "L'abbé Mermet de Cachon et l'aube des relations franco-japonaises". Transactions of the International Conference of Orientalists in Japan. Tōhō Gakkai (Institute of Eastern Culture), University of Michigan: 60–72.
• Honda, Sōichirō; de Beaucé, Thierry; Polak, Christian (1979). Honda par Honda (in French). Paris: Stock (publishing house). Rondello Zanchi, Flavio, trans., 3d ed. (in Portuguese). São Paulo: Sigla. ISBN 2234010608. OCLC 21285378. {{cite book}}: External link in |publisher= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• de Beaucé, Thierry; Polak, Christian; Araki, Tōru (1980). Japonichūdo: Nihon no shinsō kōzō (Île absolue) (in Japanese). University of Michigan. OCLC 68207108.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• de Poncet, Didier, and Polak, Christian (1980). Japonitude: the deep strucures of Japan, as seen by the French (in Japanese). ジャポニチュード フランスの知性が見た《日本の深層構造》. Saimaru.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Shinichi, Okada; Polak, Christian (1988). End of the Bakufu and Restoration in Hakodate (in Japanese). 函館の幕末・維新　フランス士官ブリュネのスケッチ 100 枚. Chuo Kouronsha. ISBN 4120016994.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Polak, Christian (2001, 2002). Silk and light: the unknown 100 years history of France-Japan relations (Soie et Lumieres: L'Age d'or des échanges franco-japonais (des origines aux années 1950)) (in French and Japanese). Kurischan Porakku, 絹と光 : 知られざる日仏交流 100 年の歴史 ( 江戸時代 ~1950 年代 ) (Kinu to hikari : shirarezaru Nichi-Futsu kōryū 100-nen no rekishi (Edo jidai-1950-nendai)), also 日仏交流の黄金期 (Shohan ed. ed.). Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie Française du Japon, Hachette Fujingaho, Ashetto Fujin Gahōsha (アシェット婦人画報社). ISBN 4573062106. OCLC 50875162. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help); Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
• Jacoulet, Paul; Swatari, Kiyoko; Polak, Christian (2003). Paul Jacoulet: créature d'ukiyo-e, couleurs de rêve arc-en-ciel. ポール・ジャクレー (Pōru Jakurē ten: saikō no yume o tsumuida Furansujin yukioeshi). Yokohama: Yokohama Bijutsukan (Yokohama Museum of Art), Tankosha Publishing. ISBN 4473019926. OCLC 54397718. Retrieved 2008-04-04.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Polak, Christian, and Taniguchi, Tomohiko (July 2003). "Lead Essays". Gaiko Forum. 180. Toshi Shuppan. Retrieved 2008-04-02. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Polak, Christian (2005). Sabre et pinceau: Par d'autre Francais au Japon. 1872-1960 (in French and Japanese). Ueki, Hiroshi (植木 浩), foreword; 筆と刀・日本の中のもうひとつのフランス (1872-1960). Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie Française du Japon, Hachette Fujingaho.
• Polak, Christian, and Belmondo, Sylvain (2006). Japan R&D Policies and Programs in the Aeronautic and Space Sectors. SERIC. Retrieved 2008-04-04.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Polak, Christian. The French story of Yokohama: French Diplomacy and Yokohama. 横浜フランス物語・フランスの外交と横浜.

References

1. "Christian Polak" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2008-04-04.
2. Bennett, Terry (2006). Photography in Japan 1853-1912. p. 143. ISBN 0804836337. Collector and writer Christian Polak, an expert on early French-Japanese relations.
3. Pons, Philippe (2005). "Sabre et pinceau". Le Monde. Christian Polak, le meilleur specialiste de l'histoire des relations Franco-Japonaises.
4. "Christian Polak" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2008-04-04.
5. Polak 2001, p. 239.
6. "Conférence du Paris Club de M. Christian Polak". 2007. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
7. "Dîner des Senpai en compagnie de M. Christian Polak, "facilitateur d'affaires"". 2006. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
8. Polak and Taniguchi 2003.
9. "Société franco-japonaise de Kanagawa" (in Japanese). Société franco-japonaise de Kanagawa. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
10. Décret du 20 février 2002 portant nomination de conseillers du commerce extérieur de la France
11. "Décret du 30 avril 2002 portant promotion et nomination NOR: PREX0205524D" (in French). Legifrance.gouv.fr. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
12. Polak 2005, p. 4. Ueki is the former director of Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs and director of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo. "日仏交流史の優れた研究者であり、同時に有能なビジネスマンでもあるクリスチャン・ポラック氏"、筆と刀、" "Christian Polak, un historien reconnu des relations Franco-Japonaises, en même temps qu'un homme d'affaire accompli."
13. "Sabre et Pinceau". Lettre Mensuelle (Monthly Newsletter) (in French). French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan. pp. 13–14. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
14. Barroux, David (2001-08-06). "Soichiro Honda". Les Échos (France). Retrieved 2008-04-03.
15. Tanaka, Sadao (1983). Les débuts de l'étude du français au Japon. University of Michigan.
16. Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan. Asiatic Society of Japan. 1986.
17. Polak 1977, pp. 60-72.
18. "Books on Christian Polak". Retrieved 2008-04-04.
19. "Books on クリスチャン・ポラック". Retrieved 2008-04-04.
20. Kawabata, Tai (2003-05-21). "Paul Jacoulet: The first Western master of woodblock". Japan Times. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
21. Monthly Letter of the French Chamber of Commerce in Japan, p.9 "Diner des sempais en compagnie de M.Christian Polak

See also

• France-Japan relations (19th century)

External links

• Christian Polak on Japan-US.org
• French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan

• French writers