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Tokyo Shopping ・ Popular Creative Label NouNou’s First Japanese Pop-Up at GINZA SIX

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NouNou meets GINZA SIX! Enter the world of artist Jean Jullien in the heart of Tokyo.



The latest fashion trends, the most luxurious designers, restaurants, cafes, a bookstore that feels like an art library, and more – GINZA SIX is the largest commercial complex in Ginza, and it even has its own traditional Japanese Noh theater.



It's in this unique facility that we find the first-ever Japanese pop-up shop for NouNou, a brand developed by Korean creative director Jae Huh and French artist Jean Jullien.

The Brand’s First Pop-Up in Japan



The NouNou pop-up store is full of original designs based on Jean Jullien's cute illustrations, with a wide variety of products ranging from clothing and accessories to home goods and everyday items. Offerings include some of the brand's most popular items, as well as a selection of new products from NouNou's FW 2023 collection, some of which are first seen at this pop-up.

To celebrate the grand opening, the shop is even exhibiting original art editions for sale from Jean Jullien and some related merchandise, courtesy of the contemporary art gallery NANZUKA.













NouNou Pop Up Store
Location: GINZA SIX 4th Floor PopUp Space
Dates: September 13 (Wed) ~ October 10, 2023 (Tue)
Sponsor: SUNNYES
Courtesy of: JaeHuh & Co. / NANZUKA / Juice

An Extra Surprise: Jean Jullien Art Furniture









Jean Jullien Art Furniture
Location: GINZA SIX 4th Floor Public Spaces
Dates: September 13 (Wed) ~ October 10, 2023 (Tue)
Sponsor: GINZA SIX
Courtesy of: NANZUKA
Organization: SUNNYES
Production: AD.JAPAN

”The Departure“



©Jean Jullien courtesy of NANZUKA

Jean Jullien's playful touch has actually been present at GINZA SIX since 2022, when his installation art piece "The Departure" was hung in the wide-open atrium from floors two to five. Visitors can still see it throughout the duration of the pop-up shop, and enjoy the unique decorations that bring life to this space at the heart of GINZA SIX. Now that the huge installation piece is surrounded by the art furniture and the NouNou pop-up itself, there's a lot of Jean Jullien to enjoy at GINZA SIX.





NouNou?




A creative label born from a Korean creative director and a French visual artist, NouNou has collaborated with brands and shops around the world, but its origins began in a London studio. There, Jae Huh and Jean Jullien shared a working space and became fast friends, and when Jae Huh returned to Korea in 2016 after 11 years abroad, he invited Jean Jullien to collaborate with his brand Stereo Vinyls. Inspired by his Korean friend's culture, Jean Jullien decided to use traditional Korean masks as a theme, resulting in a collection replete with faces making all the expressions found in daily life.

After that first project was completed, while waiting at the airport for Jullien's return flight to London, the two men came to a decision: they would take this simple collaboration to new heights, turning it into a whole new brand, and basing their operations out of Seoul. The brand's name NouNou comes from the nickname that Huh's daughter gave to Jullien's son Lou, "NuNu," combined with the French word for we/us, "nous."

NouNou
Official Website: https://nounou.kr  
Instagram: @nounou_official

Jean Jullien?



Born in 1983 in Nantes, France, Jean Jullien is an illustrator, graphic designer, and general visual artist active in the UK. The artist's journey began at the school Le Paraclet in Quimper, where he studied graphic design before moving across the channel.



In the years since his graduation from Central Saint Martins (University of the Arts London) in 2008 and the completion of his studies at the Royal College of Art in 2010, Jullien's illustration work has been associated with a variety of brands and media outlets, including the New York Times, National Geographic, RCA Records, Le Centre Pompidou, Hermes, Petit Bateau, and Vogue. At the same time, Jean Jullien has continued to pursue fine art with a passion, exhibiting work in San Francisco, London, Berlin, Singapore, and galleries all over the world.

Jean Jullien's wit-filled works are steeped in a stew of cultural influences, with inspiration coming from a diverse selection of sources. The artist cites influences including Japanese manga like Saint Seiya, Dragon Ball, and City Hunter, along with Franco-Belgian bande dessinée comics, and the likes of French poster artist Raymond Savignac, picture book author Tomi Ungerer, and illustrator Jean-Jacques Sempé. The result is a portfolio that defies the stereotypes of fine art.

Notable Works



©Julia Andréone

Painted straight onto the wall of the Yvon Lambert Gallery in Paris during a solo exhibition, this work was created to commemorate the May 2022 publication of "Jean Jullien" from Phaidon Press, and it tells the story of Jullien's iconic characters, the Paper People.



©Julia Andréone

Jean Jullien's love of surfing, born from a childhood by the sea, is a theme that shows up frequently in the artist's work. This April 2022 painting, found on the wall of the Alice Gallery in Brussels, is the latest wall painting exhibited at his solo exhibition "Bye Bye Blue."



©Julia Andréone

Flexibly integrating painting and illustration while incorporating strong influences from his days growing up in a seaside town, Jean Jullien's paintings sometimes burst beyond the borders of his canvases to fill the surrounding walls. This novel work was a part of the Bye Bye Blue solo exhibition at Alice Gallery.

GINZA SIX’s Art Project Continues



GINZA SIX is already known as a Tokyo shopping landmark, always a step ahead of the latest fashion trends. It has quickly become beloved among Tokyo locals and shoppers from all over the world, offering a lineup of luxurious brands and a shopping experience that never fails to excite. But perhaps it's the sense of style cultivated and inspired by a constant connection to the world of art, like this unique pop-up shop, that's the true driving force at GINZA SIX, and what pulls in a crowd on top of the latest trends.



For more info and updates from Japan, check Japankuru for new articles, and don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!

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    • Niki, in south-west Hokkaido, is about 30 minutes from Otaru. The small town is rich with natural resources, fresh water, and clean air, making it a thriving center for fruit farms. Cherries, tomatoes, and grapes are all cultivated in the area, and thanks to a growing local wine industry, it's quickly becoming a food and wine hotspot. Together with the neighboring town of Yoichi, it's a noted area for wine tourism.

    • Niseko is about two hours from New Chitose Airport, in the western part of Hokkaido. It's one of Japan's most noted winter resort areas, and a frequent destination for international visitors. That's all because of the super high-quality powder snow, which wins the hearts of beginners and experts alike, bringing them back for repeat visits. That's not all, though, it's also a great place to enjoy Hokkaido's culinary scene and some beautiful onsen (hot springs).

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    • Consisting of six prefectures, the Tohoku Region (東北地方) is up in the northeastern part of Japan's main island. It's the source of plenty of the nation's agriculture (which means great food), and packed with beautiful scenery. Explore the region's stunning mountains, lakes, and hot springs!

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    • Japan's most densely populated area, the Kanto Region (関東地方) includes 7 prefectures: Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, and Kanagawa, which means it also contains the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. In modern-day Japan, Kanto is the cultural, political, and economic heartland of the country, and each prefecture offers something a little different from its neighbors.

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    • Tokyo (東京) is Japan's busy capital, and the most populous metropolitan area in the world. While the city as a whole is quite modern, crowded with skyscrapers and bustling crowds, Tokyo also holds onto its traditional side in places like the Imperial Palace and Asakusa neighborhood. It's one of the world's top cities when it comes to culture, the arts, fashion, games, high-tech industries, transportation, and more.

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      Shizuoka Prefecture is sandwiched between eastern and western Japan, giving the prefecture easy access to both Tokyo and Osaka. Not only is it known for beautiful natural attractions, with everything from Mount Fuji to Suruga Bay, Lake Hamanako, and Sumata Pass―Shizuoka's Izu Peninsula is known as a go-to spot for hot springs lovers, with famous onsen like Atami, Ito, Shimoda, Shuzenji, and Dogashima. Shizuoka attracts all kinds of travelers thanks to historic connections with the Tokugawa clan, the Oigawa Railway, fresh eel cuisine, Hamamatsu gyoza, and famously high-quality green tea.

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    • Kyoto flourished as the capital of Japan between the years 794 and 1100, becoming a center for poilitics and culture, and to this day it's a great place for close encounters with Japanese history. The cobbled streets of Gion, the atmospheric road to Kiyomizudera Temple, Kinkakuji's golden walls and countless historic attractions, even Arashiyama's Togetsukyo Bridge―Kyoto is a place of many attractions. With new charms to experience throughout the seasons, travelers can't stop themselves from returning again and again.

    • Nara Prefecture's important history reaches back to 710, a time now called the Nara era, when it was once capital of Japan. Called "Heijo-kyo" during its time as a capital, it's said that nara was once the end of the silk road, leading it to flourish as a uniquely international region and produce important cultural properties of all kinds. To make the most of each season, travelers head to Nara Park, where the Nara deer who wander freely, or climb Mount Yoshino, a famous cherry blossom spot.

    • Osaka is known for friendly (and funny) people, but its history is nothing to laugh at, playing a major part in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's 16th century unification of Japan. Thanks to long years of economic activity, it's one of Japan's biggest cities, and Osaka's popular food culture earned it the nickname "The Kitchen of the Nation." To this day Osaka is the model of western Japan, and alongside historic structures like Osaka Castle, it also has major shopping malls like Umeda's Grand Front Osaka and Tennoji's Abeno Harukas. Osaka is a place to eat, eat, eat, with local specialties like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushi-katsu, and for extra fun, it's home to Universal Studios Japan.

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      The Chugoku Region (中国地方) consists of five prefectures: Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, and Yamaguchi. In Chugoku you’ll find the sand dunes of Tottori, and Hiroshima’s atomic bomb site, plus centers of ancient history like Grand Shrine of Izumo.

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    • SHIKOKU

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      On the other side of the Seto Inland Sea opposite Japan’s main island, Shikoku (四国) is a region made up of four prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima. The area is famous for its udon (in Kagawa), and the beautiful Dogo Onsen hot springs (in Ehime).

    • Kagawa Prefecture is on the northern part of the island of Shikoku, facing Japan's main island and the Seto Inland Sea. It's known for being the smallest prefecture in Japan, by area, but at the same time Kagawa is called the "Udon Prefecture" thanks to its famous sanuki udon. Aside from Kotohiragu Shrine and Ritsurin Garden, the prefecture's small islands are popular, and Kagawa is full of unique destinations, like Angel Road. They say that if you lay eyes on Zenigata Sunae, a huge Kagawa sand painting, you'll never have money troubles ever again.

    • Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) is an island of 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. The island's unique culture has been influenced by Chinese and Dutch trade, along with missionaries coming in through Nagasaki's port. Modern-day travelers love the lush natural scenery and fresh food, plus the natural hot springs found all throughout the area (thanks to volcanic activity)!

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      Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.

    • KAGOSHIMA

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      Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.

    • OKINAWA

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      The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.

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