France's Allure in Japan, for Better and for LAUGHS...
When you travel to Japan, you'll find that France enjoys a remarkably positive image, and being French will earn you compliments on our cuisine, our culture...
When you travel to Japan, you'll find that France enjoys a remarkably positive image, and being French will earn you compliments on our cuisine, our culture...
This "premium" image of France is certainly reflected through luxury shops (LVMH...) in Ginza, but also through store and product names "Frenchified" by the Japanese... for better and for LAUGHS...
Indeed, the subtleties of the French language are not always easy to grasp (particularly the lack of word inversion like in English), and strolling through Tokyo you'll occasionally spot shop names that are absolutely hilarious...
- "Place de la Marché Gourcieux"
- "The Flavors of Mother of Southern France"
- The Charm of Paris Suburbia (the 93?)
- Galerie Café Le Grand
- Tea Room Juliet
- Candy Puree?
- Go Reds!
- Since 2000 Pastry Chef...
- Gourmet Market
- That's Good Beach
- Sweet Pedal... Hi Five...
- Amusement Karaoke
- Café La Mille
- For the flashy types...
- The Grace of Wheat
- Want a Slap (via My Heroes Dies Today)?
- Beautiful Hair... (via Gilles's Blog)
- Welcome to the Station... (via LeJapon.fr)
- It's Cute... (via Manga-Video Games Blog)
And below a little highlight from the site Franponais, the reference for storefront errors:
But let's not forget that the Japanese must also have a good laugh when they see the names of Japanese restaurants in France which must also be packed with spelling mistakes or mixed-up meanings!
Do you have other examples of "French" storefronts in Japan? Send us your links!
Frequently asked questions
France enjoys a very positive image in Japan, associated with luxury, gastronomy, fashion and culture. Major French houses like LVMH are highly present in Tokyo, particularly in the Ginza district. French cuisine, pastry and French wines are especially admired by the Japanese.
'Franponais' refers to the use of French by Japanese people on storefronts, packaging or advertisements, often with grammatical errors or amusing misunderstandings. This phenomenon speaks to France's cultural appeal in Japan, but also to the translation difficulties linked to the specific features of the French language.
Storefronts with French names are found in many areas of Tokyo, particularly in shopping districts and shopping centers. The Ginza district concentrates major French luxury houses, but boutiques with 'Frenchified' names can be found throughout the city center and in trendy neighborhoods like Shibuya or Harajuku.
French is rarely spoken in Japan outside academic circles and establishments related to French culture. However, the appeal of the French language and culture is real, which explains the presence of many French words on storefronts, even if these are sometimes misspelled or misused.
Yes, French travelers are generally very well received in Japan. The positive image of France in Japanese culture contributes to a warm welcome. Japanese people are often curious about French culture and appreciate cultural exchanges with French visitors.
