This book, which Barthes himself called “the happiest” of all his books, is inspired by his trips to Japan and, more broadly, by the “Japanese text” of his life: his early passion for haiku, later calligraphy, bunraku theater, etc. This is a Cartesian “illustrated guide” to the country (both real and imaginary) where he dreamed of living, but was never able to settle. The Russian translation of Empire of Signs, first published in 2004, is published in a new edition and supplemented by a detailed commentary and afterword by the translator and editor. The publishing layout of the book is preserved in PDF A4 format.