"Bonjour France," an event showcasing French lifestyle aesthetics, know-how, and innovation, will be held again this year from April 13th to 22nd at various locations around Tokyo.
Following last year, the second annual event aims to help Japanese people discover the charms of France. Various events will be held at various locations around Tokyo under the four themes of "Shopping," "Gastronomy," "Culture," and "Art de Vivre: Aesthetics of Living."
From April 13th to 19th, "France Week," themed around "Shopping," will be held in the event halls on the 6th and 7th floors of the main building of Isetan Shinjuku. "France Week," now in its 11th year as an annual event at Isetan Shinjuku, marks the second time it has been held jointly with "Bonjour France." This year's event will feature a wide selection of French products, including food, beverages, and lifestyle goods from over 100 brands, including A L'OLIVIER, a specialty store known for its top-quality oils. Brands such as ZYGA and BLANC DES VOSGES will be setting up stalls, and there will also be a food court where you can casually enjoy authentic charcuterie culture. There will also be booths from regional cities in Normandy and Midi-Pyrénées to introduce regional French culture.
The "gastronomy"-themed event will feature a wine tasting event, "Pairing Bordeaux Wine with Food," at TRUNK in Shibuya (1-5-4 Shoto, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) on April 15th. Visitors can enjoy the match of Baron Philippe de Rothschild's wines, beloved worldwide, with a variety of dishes that complement the wine. Additionally, on April 20th and 21st, Baccarat and renowned champagne maker Taittinger will hold a collaborative event called "Champagne Night" at B Bar Marunouchi in Marunouchi (1st basement and 1st floors of the International Building, 3-1-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku) and B Bar Roppongi on the 1st floor of Roppongi Hills Keyakizaka Dori. Guests can enjoy a special champagne and aperitif set at their leisure.
As a "culture"-themed event, on April 14th, Andaz Tokyo will host "Crossing Eyes: French Artists and Creativity in Japan." The event will feature Nelly Saunier and François Azambourg, two artists who spent 15 years as residents at Villa Kujoyama, an artist-in-residence program in Kyoto. Through an interactive dialogue, the two will explore the influence of Japanese art on artists' creative endeavors. A private viewing of the "PARIS Haute Couture" exhibition will be held at the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum in Chiyoda-ku on April 21st. The exhibition will feature 130 original pieces by leading haute couture designers, including Chanel, Christian Dior, Balenciaga, and Yves Saint-Laurent. The 10-day event celebrating French living will conclude with "Guanguette in Tokyo," taking place on April 22nd in the courtyard of the Institut Français du Japon in Shinjuku. A "guanguette" is a restaurant or outdoor bar on the outskirts of Paris. After a decline in the 1950s, it has recently experienced a resurgence, with dancers dancing waltzes and tangos to the accompaniment of accordions along the banks of the Marne River. This latest edition of Guanguette in Tokyo will feature French rock groups Camille Vacherolle and Trakteur à Diesel. While sipping champagne at the champagne bar, you can enjoy a variety of music spanning eras such as the 60s, 70s, and 80s, as well as genres such as rock, blues, and French pop.
