About Junko Sophie Kakizaki
CEO
creative director
Junko Sophie Kakizaki
Artist and Master of Ikebana Sogetsu school and French flower arrangement. Promoter for Japanese culture such as tea ceremony, Japanese flower arrangement, incense ceremony, and kimono culture. Luxury business consultant.
Brand ambassador of the "Kyoto Yuzen Sarees". Awarded the grand prize by “Kateigahou” magazine for styling and flower arrangement. After learning flower arrangement and tea ceremony from her grandmother since childhood, Junko studied French flower arrangement in Paris. She completed the Les Cours de Civilisation Française de la Sorbonne, and received a Diploma at the “Ecole Française de Décoration Floral”and first class diploma of Diplôme D’animation Florale Artistique.
After returning to Japan, she has held courses that fuse Ikebana and flower arrangements and does branding and product development consulting.
She has travelled to more than 60 countries around the world and gives lectures and demonstrations on traditional Japanese culture in various countries.
Junko lives in Kyoto and educated in Paris. She combines these worlds in her unique approach to beauty and culture, and blends the best of West and East balance.
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)
Lit Link→ https://lit.link/junkosophie
Recent achievements
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.