Tottori Governor Promotes Local Goods in Paris

Paris, Nov. 12 (Jiji Press)–Tottori Governor Shinji Hirai promoted sake and folk crafts from his western Japan prefecture in Paris over two days through Wednesday. The visit to the French capital was arranged based on Hirai’s wish for his prefecture to deepen its relations with Europe, as expanding sales in the U.S. market has become difficult due to the high tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Sake brewed in Tottori was offered at a tasting event at a restaurant and at a reception held at the official residence of Japan’s ambassador to France. Foods produced in the prefecture such as beef were also served. Anne-Sophie Calvet, a 39-year-old staff member at a liquor store in Paris who visited the tasting event, said she found many sake brands that she wants to add to the shop’s lineup. On Wednesday, Hirai attended a fair for Tottori-made goods, held at a shop for Japanese folk crafts. The shop’s co-owner, Timothee Kaplan, said that Tottori stands out in that it has an ability to enhance the value of its craftsmanship in the global community. Meanwhile, the governor asked the Guimet Museum, which exhibits many Asian artworks, for cooperation over his signature policy of promoting regional revitalization through manga. The Paris museum will kick off on Nov. 19 a Japanese manga exhibition including works by the late Tottori-born manga artist Shigeru Mizuki. “This is a chance to make people feel close to Tottori through manga,” Hirai said. He expressed satisfaction over the outcomes of his visit to Paris, saying, “I want to use the results to promote regional development.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]