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[Japan Expo Paris 2024]Thank you for coming! [Report]

We are pleased to report on the “Japan Expo Paris 2024” held in Paris, France from July 11 to 14!

The entire city was in a state of excitement, as it was just before the Paris Olympics.
And more excitement awaited us at the Japan Expo venue!

ART GALLERY ORI-JIN exhibited origami art at the “WABI SABI” booth in the Japanese Traditional Culture Pavilion.
The pavilion was visited by as many as 110,300 visitors.

With the single-minded desire to show as many origami artworks as possible to as many people as possible, the artists and employees prepared many origami artworks in Paris.

Please take a look at the spectacular works of art!

View of the ART GALLERY ORI-JIN booth

Many origami artworks on the wall of the booth.

Many origami artworks on the wall of the booth.

The highlight of the exhibition is the wall of origami art panels.
There were many customers who looked at the framed works as if they were admiring the delicately crafted origami up close.

Eye-catching origami art panel. This is a work of Ohinasama.

Origami art displayed on a table

The photo frames and tapestries displayed on the tables, especially those featuring Hina dolls and Kabuto helmets, were very popular.
Some customers bought them as home decorations or as souvenirs for their loved ones, but many were interested in traditional Japanese culture and events themselves.

A panel explaining indigo dyeing and origami art using indigo-dyed washi paper

The theme of this year’s “WABI SABI” is indigo.
ART GALLERY ORI-JIN artists have prepared many works using indigo and indigo-dyed Japanese paper.
We exhibited panels in French explaining about the works using indigo-dyed and indigo-dyed washi paper, and this was an opportunity for everyone to learn more about the depth of origami art.

Our manager silently performing origami.

The manager of the company, who suggested that a performance would be a good idea to attract visitors, silently demonstrates origami.

I changed the table layout.

A customer listening to a commentary on a work by a translation staff member.

In addition, a strategy was implemented to slightly change the layout of the desks so that customers could get a closer look at the origami art.
The effect was tremendous! Once people gathered, the store was sometimes filled with people.

Bustling booth scene

Guiding you through the process with the help of a translation app

All the Japanese employees managed to guide the customers viewing the exhibition nearby in French, which they were not familiar with, by using a translation application.
Even though the language barrier was not an issue, the local people were very kind.

Booths

Booths

Colorful and varied origami earrings and pierced earrings also attracted a lot of attention.
Washi patterns and Japanese paper itself seemed to be really rare, and gorgeous colors and patterns were favored!

Folding "Tatou Fold" together at the workshop

Origami workshops were also held!
We folded traditional origami “Tatou Fold” together.
The history and usage of “Tatou Fold” were also explained, while the staff helped with the more difficult parts.

Folding "Tatou Fold" together at the workshop

A girl who loves origami also tried her hand at “Tatou Fold”.
She smiled when the completed “Tatou Fold” opened and closed!

Photo with translation staff and employees

A commemorative photo with the translation staff.
Throughout the four days, he explained each origami artwork and the Japanese traditions and events that are also the motifs of the artworks to the customers in detail.
He was a very good sales talker, and it was impressive to see how he was so friendly with the customers!
We are truly grateful for their help and all of our employees are filled with gratitude.

Paper crane lecture by translation staff

Paper crane lecture by translation staff

The translation staff could fold origami cranes, and they had a lot of fun folding them with the guests.
The “Tato Fold” workshop was very difficult because of the language barrier, but the translation staff was very good at explaining how to fold the paper cranes.

Thank you very much for Japan Expo Paris!

It was a very fruitful four days in Paris, where we discovered new discoveries and further possibilities of origami art by actually listening to the voices of local customers!
Many people who enjoy origami as a hobby also came to our booth, and we were able to reconfirm the attention that origami has received.
And the people who visited our booth were truly enthusiastic about Japanese culture and craftsmanship, and we sincerely felt that they respected the traditional beauty and techniques unique to Japan.

Thank you very much to all of you in Paris, in France and from other nearby countries!
Let’s meet again somewhere else.

Please keep your eyes on Origami Art and ART GALLERY ORI-JIN!
See you soon!

Works exhibited at Japan Expo Paris 2024 are now on sale!

The origami art exhibited at Japan Expo Paris 2024 is also available for sale in our online store!
Please take a look.

↑Click here to read the article introducing the work.