author
Claudius Ferrand
1868–1930
A French missionary priest who spent decades in Japan, he became a lively bridge between cultures through books of Japanese tales, legends, and observations. His writing helped introduce French readers to folklore and everyday life in East Asia at the turn of the 20th century.
1 Audiobook
Fables et légendes du Japon
by Claudius Ferrand
About the author
Born on June 19, 1868, Claudius Ferrand was a French priest of the Paris Foreign Missions Society. After his ordination in 1891, he was sent to Japan, where he worked first in Kyushu and later in Tokyo, learning Japanese and serving local communities.
Alongside his religious work, he wrote books that brought Japanese culture closer to French readers. He is especially known for Fables et légendes du Japon, as well as other works on Japanese life and folklore, which blend curiosity, storytelling, and the perspective of someone who had spent many years in the country.
Later in life, Ferrand also served in Korea and experienced periods of poor health. He died in 1930, leaving behind writing that still interests readers for its early French-language portrait of Japanese legends and customs.