About Junko Sophie Kakizaki
CEO
creative director
Junko Sophie Kakizaki
Based in Kyoto, master of Japanese flower arrangement and French flower arrangement. Tea ceremony expert. Kimono culture promoter. Japanese etiquette teacher. Brand official ambassador for "Kyoto Yuzen Sarees".
Junko learned Japanese flower arrangement and tea ceremony from her grandmother from an early age. After graduating university, she went to Paris to learn French at Cours de civilisation française de la Sorbonne and flower arrangement at Ecole Française de Décoration Florale. On her return to Japan, she has been teaching a course that fused Japanese and French flower arrangement over 15 years.
She founded MAISON DE KAKIZAKI LLC to promote Japanese culture and beauty, traditional crafts and art, hold workshops all over the world, and write in the international press.
While traveling to over 60 countries around the world, she gives lectures and demonstrations on Japanese culture in Italy, France, England, India, Vietnam and Taiwan etc. and also offers tea ceremony experiences at famous places in Kyoto for inbound VIPs.
Her first book is titled: “TASHI-NAMI : 9 Mindful Japanese Rituals To Feel Beautiful Inside Out” (co-authored with Aishwarya S. Nir / English Edition, GBS LLP) which was featured in famous foreign presses.
Awarded the grand prize by “KATEIGAHO” magazine for styling and flower arrangement.
Recent Achievements
June 2024
Offered a tea ceremony demonstration and a talk show as a guest of honor at the Japanese Culture Festival sponsored by the French Consulate General and organized by the Association “A Propos du Japon” in Arles, France.
October 2023
Cultural exchange event entitled "Kimono and Ao Dai - Autumn Colors of Japan and Vietnam" was held at the Vietnamese Women's Museum in Hanoi by the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, recognized by the Japanese Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a project to commemorate "The 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and Vietnam" and "The 50th Anniversary of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation".
October 2023
Ikebana workshop, kimono dressing demonstration, and tea ceremony at IKEBANA HOUSE in Hanoi, Vietnam.
2023
As the opening manager and landlady of a luxury hotel in Ohara, Kyoto, which is limited to one group per day, she was responsible for building organizational structures, consulting, etiquette training for staff, decorating flowers in the hotel's interior, tea ceremony.
2022
Attended the Rolls-Royce Owners Club event in London as an ambassador for the "ART SAKE" created to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee.
2022
Market research on Kyoto Yuzen Sarees at The Art Club London and Japan House London.
2022
The Ambassador of the Kyoto Yuzen Sarees, recognized by the Japanese Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a project to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of foreign relations with India.
2022
Hold the Japanese Culture Salon at Taj Rambagh Palace, Jaipur, India. Demonstration of tea ceremony.
2021
Collaborated with Global Beauty Secrets, India, to develop "Kyoto Beauty Secrets by Junko Sophie," a skincare line based on the ancient culture and wisdom of Japan. The product was featured in "VOGUE FRANCE", "VOGUE INDIA" and "INDIA TODAY" and many other press.
2021
Started a series on "Junko Sophie's Hidden Kyoto" in Kyoto Kimono-Ichiba in Japanese, English, Chinese and French.
2020
Installation of kimono created by a Greek artist at Hogonji Temple in Kyoto. The photos were exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki in Thessaloniki, Greece.
2021
Appeared as American NBC's 2020 Olympics special program "Japanese women practicing traditional Japanese culture in modern times".
2019
Coordinated the documentary film "Gates of Shinto" by French film director Jean-Claude Lubtchansky.
2019
Lectured on Japanese culture and beauty, and tea ceremony demonstrations in Taipei and Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
2018
Collaborated with Alberto Moro, chairman of the Japan-Italian Cultural Friendship Association, in Milan, Italy. Lectured on "Kimono and their beauty" with demonstration of kimono dressing.
2018
Collaborated with a magazine "A Propos du Japon" that introduces Japan in France. Interviews and photos about kimono and tea ceremony.