• Our Vision

    Change our perception of the world through the lens of Japan

  • Our Mission

    Bringing foods made with traditional Japanese methods to the world’s tables in an attractive way

  • Our target

    Building the first Japanese artisan food brand for a Western audience

A tranquil Japanese garden with a pond, rocks, carefully pruned trees, and a traditional building in the background, set under a partly cloudy sky.

Who are Japanese Artisans?

  • Producers with a story, carefully crafted with time and effort

  • Producers that focus on flavor without the use of chemical or additives

  • Producers who are steadfast in their craftsmanship

  • Producers preserving traditional manufacturing methods that value raw materials

  • Producers absolutely confident that their products are the best-tasting in the world

Who we are

After two and a half years developing overseas sales for Yamada Henko, the best sesame oil producer in Japan, working with high traditional craftsmanship, I have come to realize that there’s a market opportunity to import and distribute Japanese Artisans products in France and Europe.

French customers are looking for artisanal food with a brand story and are fan of the Japanese culture for its quality. Unfortunately they are not enough aware of differences between industry and artisan products. In addition to artisan uniqueness, they also want to learn how to use those products with french cuisine.

On the other hand, Japanese artisans don't know how to sell their products to French and European markets and don’t have access to resources to develop their overseas expansion. Because building overseas relationships is difficult without local knowledge and takes time with many costly visits, only big food company players are able to develop their expansion preventing small companies to emerge.

Japan Artisans company, established in Paris in December 2024 will fill the gap by creating necessary connections not only with chefs, retailers but also with media and french artisans for joint-cooperation.

By (1) providing consulting services tailored to each Japanese Artisans (2) importing their products to a selected distribution network, Japan Artisans will contribute to developing the traditional Japanese penetration in France while preserving Japan's strong history.

A smiling woman wearing a black lace dress and a white bucket hat with red chili peppers printed on it, standing outdoors near a body of water.

  • Hello, my name is Ayumi KITANI. I was born in Tokushima, Japan and I used to live in Osaka. Over the past 10 years of my career, I have focused on CSR and built a career that emphasizes social impact over economic efficiency. I have been involved in launching new businesses, particularly focusing on young women, and led a team of 15 members while promoting projects that create social impact. During this time, I obtained my MBA, worked as a visiting professor at a university, and continued to write papers while being a part of various academic societies and research institutions. Recognizing these efforts, I received the Cabinet Office Minister's Award at the age of 32, which was a huge encouragement for me. Not only that, my work in consumer education and addressing social issues has been appreciated, and I continue to be a part of academic societies, writing papers to emphasize the importance of consumer education. Business operations with an awareness of their societal impact are at the core of my values. After gaining this experience, I began aiming to provide new value to society through Japan’s traditional culture and sustainability. I was engaged in the Western expansion efforts of a traditional sesame producer based in Kyoto. These experiences led me to establish Japan Artisans in 2024, a new venture based in Paris.