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
1. The Market Opportunity Discovered by the Founder
After two and a half years developing overseas sales for Yamada Henko, Japan's finest sesame oil producer, and witnessing its high traditional craftsmanship firsthand, I became convinced that a significant opportunity exists to import and distribute Japanese Artisan products in the French and European markets.
2. Bridging Two Critical Gaps
Our market analysis identified two key challenges that must be addressed:
Needs on the French Side (Customer Challenges)
French customers seek artisanal food with a brand story and admire Japanese culture for its commitment to quality.
Unfortunately, they are not sufficiently aware of the differences between industrial and artisan products.
Beyond the uniqueness of artisan products, they are eager to learn how to use these items with French cuisine.
Challenges on the Japanese Side (Producer Challenges)
Japanese artisans often lack the knowledge and resources (funding and local network) required to sell their products to the French and European markets.
Building overseas relationships without local knowledge requires substantial time and costly visits, allowing only large food industry players to dominate expansion and preventing smaller companies from emerging.
3. The Mission and Contribution of Japan Artisans
Japan Artisans, established in Paris in December 2024, was founded to fill this gap.
We go beyond being a mere distributor by building the necessary connections—not only with chefs and retailers, but also with media and French artisans for joint cooperation.
Our activities are based on two core pillars:
Providing consulting services tailored to each Japanese Artisan.
Importing their products into a carefully selected distribution network.
Through these actions, Japan Artisans will contribute to the development of traditional Japanese penetration in France while faithfully preserving Japan's strong history.
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Ayumi KITANI
From Social Impact to Traditional Culture: My Journey
Born in Tokushima Prefecture and raised in Osaka, Japan.
Over the past 10 years of my career, I have been committed to creating social impact over mere economic efficiency. I focused on CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), initiating new businesses, particularly targeting young women, and leading a team of 15 members to drive projects that foster social change.
My continuous efforts and achievements during this period were recognized, and I received the Cabinet Office Minister's Award in 2023, which was a significant encouragement for me.
While pursuing these activities, I obtained my MBA. Subsequently, I worked as a visiting professor at a university and continued to publish papers, emphasizing the importance of consumer education while being affiliated with various academic societies and research institutions. Business operations driven by an awareness of societal impact remain at the core of my unwavering values.
After gaining this extensive experience, I set a new goal: to provide new value to society through Japan’s traditional culture and sustainability. As a concrete step, I became involved in the Western market expansion of a traditional sesame oil producer based in Kyoto.
Combining these experiences and my passion, I established Japan Artisans, a new venture based in Paris, in 2024.