- 1974-1982: A graduate in Philosophy and Sociology from the University of Poitiers, recipient of an advanced degree in Japanese from the Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales (INALCO), and holder of a doctorate in Social Science from the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Jean-François Sabouret taught at the University of Hokkaidô, Dokkyô University (Tôkyô), Waseda University (Tôkyô) from 1974 until 1989. In 1976 he began research on a discriminated minority group in contemporary Japan, and in 1981 defined his Ph D thesis on that subject.

- 1983-1998: As a fellow of the Maison Franco-Japonaise in Tôkyô from 1983 to 1986, Jean-François Sabouret conducted research on the Japanese educational system. Joining the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in 1986, he directed a project on Japan that brought together some one hundred specialists ; published in 1988 l’Etat du Japon was updated and reissued in 1995. While undertaking this editorial work, he was a visiting researcher at the Graduate School of Education at the University of Tôkyô, where he did research on the system and context for the recruitment of students in Japanese universities.

- 1988-1998: In 1990, Jean-François Sabouret established the first branch of CNRS in Japan and occupied the position of CNRS representative until 1996. From 1990 until 1996 he served as well as correspondent for France-Inter Radio in Japan. From 1996 until 1998, he was a visiting scholar at the Institute for East-Asian Studies at the University of California, Berkeley (United States).

- 1999-2004: from January 1999 through March 2002, Jean-François Sabouret served as head of the Office of Scientific and Technical Information (Délégation à l’Information Scientifique et Technique-DIST) at CNRS, with responsibility for its communications program. In June 2001, he became a member of the Founding Committee for the Asia Network (Réseau Asie) at the Foundation Maison des Sciences de l’Homme, (FMSH in Paris), and is presently serving as its executive director and financial officer.

- In March 2002, he assumed the post of researcher at the Center for Research on Social Relations (Centre de Recherche sur les Lien Sociaux-CERLIS), affiliated with CNRS and based at the University of Paris V. There he has been continuing his research on Japanese society and the educational system.
- In March 2006, he was nominated as Director of the Réseau Asie – Imasie (UPS 2999), a CNRS laboratory consolidating a previously informal co-operation with the Fondation Maison des sciences de l'homme (FMSH). The aim of this unit is to promote the activities of French researchers and experts on Asia and to develop the co-operation on a European level concerning research on Asia.


DEGREES

1981 : Ph.D. Thesis in Social Science on a discriminated minority group in contemporary Japan, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), Paris.
1983 : Avanced Degree in Japanese language and civilisation, Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales (INALCO), Paris.
1978 : Post-graduate diploma in Japanese studies, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), Paris.
1971 : Master degree in Aesthetic,, Université de Poitiers.
1971 : Bachelor of arts in Sociology, Université de Poitiers.
1968 : Bachelor of arts in Philosophy, Université de Poitiers.