 The Satsuma mission was composed of 20 envoys, among them 14 students, who participated to the fair, and also negotiated the purchase of weapons and mechanical looms.France decided to reinforce and formalize links with Japan by sending its second representative Léon Roches to Japan in 1864.Roches himself originated from the region of Lyon, and was therefore highly knowledgeable of the issues related to the silk industry.