Makiko’s House of Japan pays tribute to Japanese craftsmanship

When Makiko welcomes us into her boutique at 17 Avenue Emile Reuter, she is wearing a delicate powder-blue kimono adorned with silver and orange details. Like her outfit, the interior of her new address is a testament to the elegance of traditional Japan.

Outside, the tram passes by and people stroll through the park. Inside the shop, sliding wooden doors covered in fine paper open onto a traditional Japanese room, with a tatami floor and a calligraphic kakemono hanging on the wall.

“This is where we’ll be holding our tea ceremonies,” said Makiko Gräfin von Oberndorff, “and here,” she added, pointing to modern leather sofas and shelves displaying Japanese cooking utensils and knives, “is the space where people can discover and buy Japanese handicrafts”.

The Japanese entrepreneur came to Luxembourg over ten years ago to work for her husband. Since her arrival, she has launched numerous initiatives to promote Japanese culture: first with the foundation of the Japan Luxembourg Association (JLA), then with her import company B2B Global Link, specialising in top-of-the-range products from Japan, which she manages at the same time as the Sake Sommelier Association.

She has also added the House of Japan to her agenda. “It’s a place where I want people to really feel the atmosphere of authentic Japan,” she said.

Out of sight, but…

When Makiko graduated from university, her only wish was to “leave Japan”. “At that time, Japanese society was very strict. You had to fit into the mould, read between the lines to understand others. I wanted to remain true to myself; that’s what pushed me forward”, she recounted.

She moved to Hong Kong, then Germany, before arriving in Luxembourg. But she confessed that moving away from home gave rise to nostalgia.

“I began to appreciate my culture once I left it. All this,” she said, pointing to the room, “was something I saw every day back home. It was normal. But now I wonder about their meaning, their history.”

Staying close to producers

Ikebana (floral art), sake tasting, tea ceremony, traditional knives and Japanese desserts. – what Makiko wants Luxembourg customers to discover are traditions that have survived over the centuries while preserving their authenticity.

That’s why she only works with craftspeople and producers she has met on her regular trips to Japan, and whose work she appreciates.

Makiko works exclusively with artisans and producers she has met on her regular trips to Japan © Photo credit: Anouk Antony

“It’s a selective process and I want to offer products that are not easily found in the region,” she said, while indicating that she will gradually increase the range on offer. “For me, it’s really important to know who makes the items I bring here. Having a direct link with the producers is a real strength.”

This can sometimes be complicated, as some master craftsmen choose their customers, rather than the other way round. But her efforts to meet them have enabled Makiko to develop her project. “I think it’s essential that these craftsmen can continue to practise their skills. I want to support them as much as possible,” she said.

Another Japan

Japanese shops already exist in Luxembourg and cities close by, such as Metz and Paris, but for Makiko, opening the House of Japan was an obvious choice.

Makiko, originally from Nagoya, has a passion for exceptional products. Her company Global Link was born out of her own desire to have access to quality Japanese products. “Sake-tasting was one of my hobbies, but here it was difficult to find good sake,” she said, smiling.

As well as showcasing this facet of Japan and preserving traditional craftsmanship, the House of Japan is also a showcase for its B2B customers.

“It’s a space that gives my business customers a better idea of how we can work together. They often ask me where to see my products – now they have an address to visit”, she said. The Kamakura restaurant, for example, is one of her customers.

The shop also provides an opportunity to learn how to use the items on sale. “A lot of people are curious about my products. I know that they are not necessary for everyday use in local cuisine, but they like to have them at home, for decoration or for special occasions. So I want to show them how to use them.”

One of her contacts – the man who built the shop’s sliding doors – will be coming to show customers how to sharpen Japanese knives properly. Other workshops will offer introductions to the tea ceremony or sake tasting.

A stroke of luck

Finding premises in Luxembourg City is often an uphill battle for retailers, a feeling Makiko shared.

“I applied for a pop-up store in the city for two and a half years, without success. Then I got a temporary location in Esch,” she said.

But Makiko was still aiming for Luxembourg City. Her search came to nothing, then “last November, someone told me that a space was becoming available in the capital.” She visited it quickly before leaving for a long stay in Japan, and decided to rent it without inspecting it in detail.

Then she met an interior designer with a passion for Japanese style who was ready to draw up plans for the House of Japan. “All these coincidences came together. I was very lucky. It was no longer in my hands, so I saw it as a sign that I should persevere and open this boutique.”

The shop already had a soft opening at the end of May, but the official inauguration took place on 13 June.

Although Makiko is still trying to strike a balance between her B2B business and her boutique, she remains optimistic. “I’ll always find a way to use this space to showcase Japanese culture,” she said.

And she hopes one day to expand into other neighbouring countries. “It would be really interesting to collaborate with others on this project,” she said.