Makiko Grafin von Oberndorff has been promoting Japanese craftsmanship and artistry through events and collaborations with leading local artists, chefs and sommeliers who introduce authentic Japanese products, like sake, tea, crafts and artisanal knives to various markets across Europe.
As president of Global Link, von Oberndorff established House of Japan in central Luxembourg as a permanent space to host such events.
Among its first events, House of Japan hosted Yokoso, an event organized by the Embassy of Japan, and offered participants a chance to sample premium quality sake and experience Japanese craftsmanship.
Von Oberndorff also serves as the representative director of Naniwa Kin-eki, a 98-year-old Japan-based company that focuses on traditional methods of manufacturing Japanese products.
She has managed to blend tradition and innovation and combine local and global contexts as her distinctive approach to preserving Japanese values and techniques while expanding the global reach of Japanese products, knowledge and cultural identity.
Von Oberndorff goes beyond cultural promotion and product exports. Through House of Japan, she nurtures channels of creative collaboration that appeal to local tastes and aesthetics, while helping to form a deeper and more current understanding of Japanese identity across Europe.
