The long-established Parisian department store Le Bon Marche Rive Gauche hosted the Japan-themed "Le Japon Rive Gauche" exhibition from August 30th to October 18th. The venue, measuring over 2,000 square meters, was the largest ever, featuring over 100 Japanese brands across a wide range of genres, from fashion to everyday items, food, and cosmetics. The exhibition also featured Benesse Art Site Naoshima and an exhibition showcasing the works of Tadao Ando, as well as a pop-up shop by Sacai. The interior of the store was decorated with a Japanese-inspired design of navy blue with red polka dots, and Sacai even took over the windows. The opening day drew a large crowd, with many items selling out. It also attracted significant media attention, recording the highest attendance figures ever for a similar event. We spoke with Sophie Joly, who oversaw the event, about the highly successful conclusion.

--What prompted you to feature Japan this time?

Bon Marché regularly hosts events themed around various countries and cities. We've previously featured Tokyo, as well as Brazil, New York, and London.

Japan, in particular, has always been one of the most desirable countries for the French. It has many elements that the French love, such as history, heritage, and sophisticated design. The Bon Marché team visited Japan in 2012, two months after the earthquake. There, they met with suppliers of various products, from fashion and design to food and daily necessities, and visited concept stores and department stores, experiencing Japan's energy and creativity.

We also visited Benesse Art Site Naoshima during that time, and felt that this place, where scenery, architecture, and art all come together beautifully, should be featured in the event. Regarding culture, we decided to invite Benesse Art Site Naoshima and Tadao Ando as special guests.

--I was impressed by the emphasis placed on the exhibition space for the department store project. Art is an essential part of Bon Marché. We believe it's important to share the stories behind not only our products, but also the culture and art that surround them with our customers.

For this exhibition, photographer Gabriel de la Chapell and videographer Quentin Labeil created a special video in the exhibition space on the third floor, in which Ando and Soichiro Fukutake discuss the significance of the Benesse Art Site Naoshima project. Along with models created by students from the École Bourg National School of Art and Design, the space evokes the passion of Fukutake and Ando.

--How did you decide on the products to sell?

We have a wide variety of items, including iconic pieces, items being offered in Paris for the first time, traditional pieces, and contemporary pieces. While the team visited Tokyo and Kyoto, we also have many products from other regions, such as Okinawan food and brushes by Hakuhodo (Hiroshima). We mixed traditional and modern elements to create the Japan we wanted to express. Our goal was to introduce customers to a side of Japan they had never seen before.

--The visual presentation was outstanding.

Bon Marché has an artistic team that oversees all designs. The red spherical object on the floor was also specially created. The navy blue with red polka dots was created by Juliette Mai, who also worked on the visuals for Hermès.

--The first day of the event seemed to be a huge success.

It was like a department store during the Christmas season. Everything sold out. Everyone was interested in all kinds of products, from fashion to stationery to cosmetics. It was a huge success, with many visitors not only from France but also from Japan and tourists from other countries. There were many journalists, and the event was featured in many media outlets, including television and magazines, and we received many inquiries.

--What products were popular?

Makanai Cosmetics, DELFONICS stationery, Sacai clothing, newneu. bags, Koppu no Fuchiko-chan, and BEAMS items...I fell in love with them at first sight. I think there will be some items among these that we will continue to carry at Bon Marché in the future.

--What do you think is necessary for Japanese brands to succeed in France?

The French, who value tradition, are particularly attracted to Japanese tradition. The quality of Japanese products is perfect. If you mix that with a perspective on the past and future and a creative concept, it's exactly what the French are looking for.