Ginza Mitsukoshi is holding its popular annual Valentine's Day fair, "GINZA Sweets Collection 2014," from January 29th to February 14th in the store's 8th floor event hall.
This year's theme is "Magnifique et Mignon" (French for "Wonderful! How cute!"), and chocolates from around 60 chocolatier brands from around the world are on sale.
"Diamante" (15,750 yen) from CACAO SAMPAKA, a chocolate shop that is a purveyor to the Spanish royal family, is a 70% cacao chocolate designed like a life-sized high heel. The chocolates, inspired by the Amazon River, are each handmade by an artisan and lavishly adorned with gold leaf. The diamond-shaped white chocolate is exclusive to Mitsukoshi. "Chocolaterie de Monaco's Princess Grace" (9 pieces for 13,650 yen, exclusive to Mitsukoshi) is a gorgeous assortment of chocolates, including a crown-shaped chocolate created to commemorate the accession of Prince Albert of Monaco and chocolate cups used as wedding sweets for Grace Kelly, presented in ceramics made in a workshop that is a supplier to the Imperial Household. "Yves Thuries," a master of French cuisine and the only person in the world to have received two categories of the French Master Craftsman Award, is selling "Cordes Jewelry Box" (8 pieces for 2,625 yen, exclusive to Ginza Mitsukoshi), which contains adorable macaron-shaped chocolates and ganache in a two-tiered jewelry case. The chocolates with attached charms are popular every year, and apparently sold out on the first day of this event (limited quantities are available each day). Three brands are also making their Japan debut this year. Produced by two British women affiliated with Oxfam, an organization that aims to eradicate global poverty, Plush Chocolates is a chocolate brand that is committed to fair trade standards, not only for its ingredients like cacao, but also for its packaging. Despite being its first appearance in Japan, its hand-painted Kashmir boxes ranked third in sales on the first day. Each box has a unique design. The boxes contain four flavors of chocolate, including rum (1,680 yen). Other popular brands making their Japan debut include BbyB., a chocolate brand founded in 2010 in Bruges, northwest Belgium, and CHOCOPOLIS, an authentic chocolate brand meticulously crafted in a Belgian in-store factory. The store also offers a well-equipped eat-in area. BONNAT, a long-established French brand celebrating its 130th anniversary, offers freshly baked delicacies such as a cake (420 yen) made with a recipe passed down for over 100 years at the maison, and soft-serve chocolate ice cream (525 yen) made with low-fat milk from Biei Farm in Hokkaido.
The store is also running a Valentine's Day campaign in the Western confectionery corner on the second basement floor. Many items exclusive to the store are being proposed, including special chocolates created in collaboration between Patisserie Mon Cher, known for its Dojima Roll, and fashion brand HAN AHN SOON.
