Iconic Tokyo-based luxury department store comes to OGATA Paris
for a curated selection of artisanal excellence

From November 4th

 

WAKO Ginza, an iconic institution in Tokyo’s Ginza district, comes to OGATA Paris for a curated selection of Japanese craftsmanship, art and contemporary design, bringing together works by exceptional artists and artisans.

Housed within the historic Seiko House, whose clock tower has become a symbol of Ginza, WAKO is one of Japan’s most renowned luxury department stores. Since its establishment in 1947, WAKO has carried forward the spirit of Kintarō Hattori, founder of the company that would become the Seiko Group, whose guiding principle was to “always stay one step ahead of the times.”

From watches and jewellery to decorative objects and everyday essentials, WAKO has long championed exceptional craftsmanship, bringing together Japanese and international makers while offering new perspectives on contemporary lifestyles and aesthetics.

Presented within the gallery space at OGATA Paris, this presentation brings WAKO’s Arts & Culture universe to Paris through a selection of works rooted in Japanese aesthetics. Spanning traditional crafts and contemporary creations, the exhibition celebrates the diversity of materials, techniques and artistic expressions that continue to shape Japanese craftsmanship today.

 

Arts and culture space, WAKO Ginza. 4-5-11, Ginza, Chuo 104-8105 Tokyo Prefecture.

 

Collections

The Art of Bamboo

Long used in Japan to make everyday objects, bamboo has been recognised as an artistic medium since the Meiji era. More recently, bamboo crafts have gained recognition in the contemporary art world.
The material’s natural qualities, from its straight growth to its hollow structure, hold particular significance in Japanese culture. The works presented show how Japanese artisans have developed traditional bamboo techniques into an art form.

 

Tea Ceremony Utensils

Designer Yosuke Fujii draws inspiration from tea, the passage of time and Japan’s four seasons to create objects for the tea ceremony. His tea boxes (chabako), fukusa cloths and sukiyabukuro pouches combine traditional techniques with contemporary colours and designs.

Yosuke Fujii
Born in 1987, Yosuke Fujii graduated from Central Saint Martins in London and worked across Europe before establishing his own brand in 2014. His work draws on materials and designs from different cultures and periods to create decorative objects for interiors.

 

Japanese Ceramics

With a history spanning more than a thousand years, Japanese ceramics are valued for both their practical use and artistic qualities. WAKO presents works by two Japanese artists.

Kai Tsujimura
Working with traditional Japanese ceramic techniques, Kai Tsujimura creates pieces shaped by the natural effects of clay and fire. His work is characterised by bold, free forms and a contemporary approach to ceramics.

Kansai Noguchi
Kansai Noguchi works with Japanese lacquer, using traditional techniques such as maki-e (decoration with metallic powders) and raden (mother-of-pearl inlay). His pieces combine the rich textures and depth of lacquer with contemporary designs.

 

Fashion

WAKO presents two of its original collections: the PURE CRAFT ready-to-wear line and the SUIHA bag collection.

PURE CRAFT
PURE CRAFT is a ready-to-wear collection celebrating Japanese craftsmanship. Designed entirely in-house by WAKO, the collection brings together materials and techniques from different regions of Japan, with an emphasis on quality and careful production.

SUIHA
SUIHA is WAKO’s original collection of high-quality bags, combining Japanese aesthetics with contemporary design. The collection takes inspiration from tatewaku, a traditional Japanese pattern of parallel, undulating lines, often associated with rising steam or clouds.

 

About WAKO Ginza

Founded in 1947, WAKO is a historic Japanese luxury department store located in the heart of Tokyo’s Ginza district, within the iconic Seiko House building. Known for its carefully curated selection of watches, jewellery, fashion, fine crafts and art, WAKO has long championed Japanese and international craftsmanship.

In 2024, WAKO opened Arts & Culture, a dedicated space bringing together traditional crafts, contemporary art and fashion, with a focus on Japanese creativity and craftsmanship.

Official website: https://www.wako.co.jp/