CAREER

After discovering Japanese culture in the 1990s through anime, manga, and martial arts, I fell in love with the Japanese language and traditional culture when I began studying Japanese in 2002.

I later changed direction and studied graphic design before building a 17-year career in post-production for the advertising industry.

At the same time, I founded and managed several projects related to electronic music, including a management and booking agency, an internet radio station, and a record label. I was also active as a DJ and launched my own T-shirt brand.

After becoming increasingly disillusioned with the advertising world, I decided to return to my original passion and fully dedicate myself to Maison 絆 Kizuna, a Japanese cultural space, tea bar, and concept store located in Enghien-les-Bains, near Paris.

The venue opened in October 2024 and operated until April 2025. During this period, I also began creating content on social media, sharing my passion for Japanese culture with a wider audience.

Following the closure of Maison Kizuna, I was determined to continue working in the same field. Fortunately, I met the Managing Director of HIS France, who was considering creating a new position to oversee the company’s Japanese concept store.

In August 2025, I joined HIS France as the manager of the concept store. Today, I also handle events, communications, and promotional activities related to the store.

In addition, we collaborate with and promote Japanese brands, as well as prefectures and cities across Japan, helping to introduce their culture, products, and tourism attractions to French audiences.

BUSINESS

HIS is a Japanese travel company founded in 1980 by Hideo Sawada. Today, the company operates in around 60 countries worldwide and has significantly diversified beyond its original travel business.

In Japan, HIS manages a wide range of ventures, including hotels and various other tourism-related businesses.

For the past few years, HIS expanded its activities in Europe by developing concept stores and retail businesses. Today, these operations can be found in countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and France.

The Paris concept store stands out for its carefully curated selection of Japanese crafts, artisanal products, and an extensive collection of Japanese sake and spirits sourced from all regions of Japan. The store is designed as a journey through the country, allowing visitors to discover Japan from south to north through the unique products and traditions of its prefectures.

Beyond retail, we regularly organize cultural events, including exhibitions, conferences, workshops, and other activities that help promote Japanese culture to local audiences.

More recently, HIS has expanded its presence in Paris with the opening of HIS Kimura, a traditional Japanese restaurant located in the 14th arrondissement. The restaurant specializes in authentic sushi and obanzai cuisine, offering a genuine taste of Japanese culinary culture.

VISION

My mission is to grow the concept store, increase its visibility, and ensure its long-term sustainability.

It is certainly a significant challenge, especially in a niche market and within a difficult global economic environment. However, I see these challenges as opportunities to innovate and create meaningful connections between Japanese culture and local audiences.

A large part of my work involves collaborating with content creators, influencers, and public figures. Through social media and digital platforms, I aim to strengthen the store’s visibility and inspire people to experience it in person.

Moving forward, we plan to expand our cultural programming by organizing more events, exhibitions, and workshops. These activities will play a key role in building a loyal community around the store and encouraging repeat visits.

While we do not have any specific partnerships to announce at this stage, collaborations with artisans, cultural organizations, and businesses connected to Japan are an important part of our future development strategy.

Our goal is to establish the concept store as a leading destination for discovering authentic Japanese craftsmanship, culture, and regional heritage in France.

PROFILE

Born in Berck, France, he studied Japanese at the University of Lille 3 before pursuing graphic design at ETPA. After building a 17-year career in the advertising industry, he founded Maison Kizuna, a cultural hub dedicated to promoting Japanese culture and fostering cultural exchange.

Today, he serves as Manager of the HIS Paris Concept Store, overseeing store operations, event planning, communication strategies, among others. Through these initiatives, he helps introduce the richness and diversity of Japanese culture to audiences in France.

Known for his strong drive and creativity, he excels at managing multiple projects simultaneously. Thriving in dynamic and challenging environments rather than routine-driven work, he continuously develops new ideas in the fields of Japanese cultural promotion, event production, and communication strategy.

▼ HIS Paris Website
https://www.hisparis.com

▼ Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/wearehisparis/?hl=ja ( @wearehisparis )
https://www.instagram.com/maison.kizuna/ ( @maison.kizuna )