Montaigne's forgotten readers The first literary reception of the Essays by Japanese Anglicists

The first reception history of Montaigne’s Essays in Japan is not well known. The promotion of the study of English, which began before the Meiji Restoration, produced many japanese English scholars. Some of them discovered Montaigne in their research for the English essay. In addition, the first partial translation of the Essays was made from English by two Anglicists. However, their work and reflections were forgotten, with the development of studies of French literature.