An exhibition showcasing Japanese photography, set to open this autumn at the Bibliothèque nationale de France, would not have happened without the work of Jean-Claude Lemagny (1931–2023), who was in charge of contemporary photography at the cabinet des Estampes of the BnF from 1968. Héloïse Conésa and Dominique Versavel, the exhibition's curators, emphasized Lemagny's role in expanding the BnF's collection to include international photography, particularly from Japan. When Lemagny took on this role, he had little knowledge of Japan, but he launched efforts to connect with Japanese photographers, critics, galleries, publishers, museum conservators, and even camera manufacturers such as Nikon and Canon. These efforts resulted in the acquisition of nearly 4,000 prints from about 200 photographers, as well as a hundred books and magazines. The BnF's collection is known for its historical depth, richness, and aesthetic variety, with Lemagny responsible for at least 3,000 of the prints. The exhibition, developed with the scientific input of Japanese photography historian Yoshiaki Kai, offers a new perspective on the history of Japanese photography. It challenges the widely accepted narrative centered on the Provoke movement, which began in 1968 and is known for its blurred, grainy, and high-contrast images. Instead, the exhibition also highlights other movements, such as Konpora Shashin, which emphasizes a more subdued and everyday approach to photography. The exhibition includes works by photographers such as Shigeo Gochō, Tokuko Ushioda, Kazuto Miura, and Masao Sekiguchi, who focus on documenting the transformations in Japanese society through everyday life and domestic spaces. The BnF is the only European institution to hold prints from these artists. The exhibition begins with photographers who, after World War II, aimed to rebuild a collective image of Japan. It includes works by Ken Domon, Hiroshi Hamaya, and Kazuto Miura, which reflect the country's memory of the occupation, post-nuclear trauma, modernization, and cultural legacies. The exhibition also highlights the contributions of female photographers, with Yoshi Takata being the first Japanese photographer collected by Lemagny. Takata worked in Paris in the 1960s and was a collaborator of Pierre Cardin. The exhibition also features works from contemporary female photographers such as Rinko Kawauchi, Sayuri Ichida, and Chieko Shiraishi. The exhibition also explores the influence of Japanese photography on and from the United States and France. Yasuhiro Ishimoto, who was trained in Chicago, played a key role in introducing American modernism to Japan. Later, photographers from the Konpora Shashin movement engaged with American photographers such as Lee Friedlander, Garry Winogrand, and Diane Arbus. Japanese photographers were also inspired by Paris, with figures such as Ihei Kimura, Keiichi Tahara, Yoshi Takata, Mamoru Sakamoto, and Jun Shiraoka having lived or worked there. Kimura's photographs of Paris from the 1950s and Tahara's images of Paris rooftops are among the highlights. The exhibition also emphasizes the significance of books in Japanese photographic culture, with rare and highly regarded items such as Yukiguni by Hiroshi Hamaya and The Map by Kikuji Kawada on display. The exhibition, titled Japanese Photographs from the Bibliothèque nationale de France, 1945-2025 - Scènes, signes, sensations, will run from 30 September 2026 to 31 January 2027 and is part of the bicentenary celebrations of photography.