Japanese candles from a long-established candle shop in Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture, whose store was destroyed in the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, were on display at one of the world's largest international interior and design trade fairs held this month near Paris. The exhibition, which was once abandoned due to the disaster, was brought to fruition with the support of those involved, and was lit in France, far away from the disaster area, as a ``light of hope'' for recovery from the earthquake.
(Interview / NHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWSROOM TOKYO Anchor Takuma Yoshioka)
table of contents
“Paris Collection of the Interior Industry” Maison & Objet
Tragedy struck suddenly at 4:10pm on January 1st.
On the verge of full-scale overseas expansion
After giving up on exhibiting, we now bring candles to France
Hopes for recovery shine in France
Japanese candles that attract overseas buyers
Open table of contents
table of contents
table of contents
“Paris Collection of the Interior Industry” Maison & Objet
Tragedy struck suddenly at 4:10pm on January 1st.
On the verge of full-scale overseas expansion
After giving up on exhibiting, we now bring candles to France
Hopes for recovery shine in France
Japanese candles that attract overseas buyers
“Paris Collection of the Interior Industry” Maison & Objet
``Maison et Objet'' is a trade fair that is held twice a year near Paris and is also known as the Paris Fashion Week for the interior design industry.
Held for five days starting from the 18th of this month, 2,300 brands from over 140 countries gathered and exhibited a variety of products that brighten up our lives.
Here, Japanese candles exhibited by "Takazawa Candle", located in Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture, an area affected by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, were exhibited.
Japanese candles have thicker wicks than Western candles and are handmade using natural materials.
Because it produces less soot and has a large flame, it attracted a lot of attention from buyers from all over the world.
French buyer
: "It's a wonderful combination of tradition and modernity. I've never seen anything like this before."
A panel was set up at the booth to explain the damage caused by the earthquake and the history of the store, and also called for donations for reconstruction.
Tragedy struck suddenly at 4:10pm on January 1st.
From Takazawa Candle Facebook
In Nanao, which faces a calm bay on the Noto Peninsula, around 1650 during the Edo period, the Maeda family, the lords of the Kaga domain, created a manufacturing and sales association called ``Rosekuza,'' and since then, they have gathered craftsmen from all over the country and encouraged them to make candles.
It is said that the production of candles became popular because it was able to take advantage of its location as a port of call for the Kitamaebune ship, order raw materials from all over the country, and transport the finished products to various places.
This store was founded in 1892, over 130 years ago.
Today, it is the only store in the prefecture that continues to make Japanese candles using the traditional method of wrapping washi paper and wicks one by one by hand, and the store, which is registered as a national tangible cultural property, has also become a tourist attraction.
However, this year, January 1st at 4:10 p.m.
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the region, which was in the midst of a New Year's celebration.
This earthquake caused major damage to the storehouse building facing Ipponsugi Street, where the old townscape of Nanao City still remains, with the eaves collapsing and the main building leaning.
There is a sign in front of the store that says, ``We will be closed for the time being.''
On the verge of full-scale overseas expansion
Hisashi Takazawa (from 2019 NHK program)
President Hisashi Takazawa (51), who is the fifth generation since the company's founding, has been developing an overseas expansion strategy for more than 10 years since his father's time, hoping to share the appeal of the traditional craft of Japanese candles with the world.
Japanese candles were originally used as Buddhist altar items, but Mr. Takazawa wanted to expand their use to living rooms and dining tables, so he set his sights on the European market, where there is a culture of using candles on a daily basis, and created a foreign-language candle. The company has been focusing on expanding overseas sales channels, including increasing the number of employees who can do so.
The culmination of these efforts was the exhibition at ``Maison et Objet,'' an event that Takazawa describes as ``the World Cup in soccer.''
This trade fair, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, is a major event that attracts many buyers not only from France, but also from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other countries.
It is necessary to pass a preliminary screening before listing, and it is said that the listing itself increases brand power.
This year, Mr. Takazawa had the chance to exhibit independently at the trade fair for the first time.
Not only that, but these Japanese candles were also selected by the organizers as one of the featured products in advance.
Yasaki was about to take the stage on the world's cypress stage when he was struck by an earthquake.
After giving up on exhibiting, we now bring candles to France
``While I myself am a disaster victim and am worried about my livelihood, I cannot leave Japan without leaving my employees behind.''
On January 6, five days after the earthquake, Mr. Takazawa sent an email to the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the general agent for the trade fair and the person who supported the exhibition, informing him that he was canceling the exhibition.
In response to this, the general agent in Japan said, ``Why don't we at least display the products and have visitors support us by purchasing the products?''
However, the question is, who will take the Japanese candles to France? was.
Upon receiving the news, JETRO immediately took action.
It was decided that the candles would be delivered to France on Takazawa's behalf.
On January 12th, the person in charge went to Kanazawa and received a cardboard box of Japanese candles that had survived the disaster from Mr. Takazawa.
There are only 6 days left until the trade fair starts.
Although the schedule was tight, they managed to increase the number of local assistants such as interpreters, and were able to create a system to strengthen explanations to buyers.
Mr. Akira Ataka, Manager of Sales Channel Development Division, JETRO Overseas Expansion Support Department: ``
Since they have expressed their intention to exhibit, we would like to support them as much as possible.We have decided to receive the products and transport them to the site. Since it would be difficult to explain the exhibits at the venue without hearing directly from Mr. Takazawa, I visited Kanazawa, received the products, and spoke in detail.
Hopes for recovery shine in France
Then came January 18th, the first day of the trade fair.
There was a noticeable crowd at the TAKAZAWA CANDLE booth.
Everything from the core to the wax is derived from plants.
Mr. Takazawa's Japanese candles are based on the concept of ``loving the blessings of nature.''
Thai buyer
: ``In addition to aesthetic beauty and design, Japan always values harmony with nature. I like that concept.''
Dutch buyer
: ``It's a shame that the owner couldn't come to France, but I'll try to contact him directly via email.''
It received high praise at the venue.
In addition, there are voices and messages of encouragement...
"I've been thinking about you guys ever since the earthquake."
"Japanese people are patient and know how to help each other. We hope for recovery."
The organizing organization also seemed genuinely happy to have Takazawa candles on display.
Guillaume Prot, director of the organizing organization SAFI, said, ``
Due to the extremely sad event of the store being destroyed by an earthquake, I never imagined that Mr. Takazawa would exhibit it.This candle is a symbol of hope for recovery. That's true. This will be a message to the people involved in this trade fair about how strong the Japanese people are in recovering from hardship."
Mr. Takazawa is currently not giving interviews to the press because he wants to prioritize the care of his family and employees, but he did give NHK a comment about this listing.
Hisashi Takazawa (from 2019 NHK program)
“I would like to express my gratitude to everyone involved. I believe that the combined efforts of those involved will give us the strength to move forward, and we will definitely move towards recovery. I believe that its revival will be a symbol of the recovery from the Noto Peninsula earthquake."
Japanese candles that attract overseas buyers
Japanese candles from Noto delivered from disaster-stricken areas.
It attracted people in faraway France as a ``light of hope'' for recovery from the earthquake.
NEWSROOM TOKYO 20:00