Dear Maxime BOHÉ, CEO of Serapian, Dear Ms. Bethan Laura WOOD, Dear guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, good evening and welcome to the Residence of the Italian Ambassador in Tokyo, a “house-museum” from the mid-1960s overlooking a beautiful and famous Japanese garden of the seventeenth-century.
Once owned by the Matsudaira feudal clan and later the private residence of Matsukata Masayoshi, an influential politician of the early Meiji period, this magnificent place is the site of the Italian Embassy since 1930 and ideally represents the friendship between Italy and Japan.
For my wife Sabina and me it is a real pleasure to host you tonight in this Residence to celebrate Serapian Milano, one of the most remarkable examples of Italian artisanship excellence.
Since its origin in 1928 Serapian has been a symbol of elegance, refinement and creativity for Italians and international clients, representing the spirit of Milanese luxury, where design meets artistry and tradition evolves through innovation.
In recent years, Serapian has built an impressive presence in Japan and the opening of the flagship store in Tokyo, Villa Serapian Ginza, in June 2024 was a milestone for the company and a significant contribution to the image of Italian luxury products in Japan.
But Serapian’s presence in Japan goes beyond retail, embracing a true exchange of culture and creativity. We all remember the collaboration with Chiso, Japan’s oldest kimono maker, on a limited-edition collection of bags and a foulard, launched to celebrate the opening of the Villa Serapian Ginza flagship store in Tokyo.
Tonight, we have the pleasure to have with us Ms. Bethan Laura Wood, artist and designer, that collaborated with Serapian to create a series of accessories featuring a gradient “Bokashi” effect, inspired by Japanese woodblock prints technique to achieve effects of depth, using Serapian’s Mosaico weaving technique.
I am confident that Serapian will continue to explore new ways to bring together Milanese leather craftmanship with Japanese rich heritage, and I express my deep appreciation for this approach that greatly contributes to the strengthening of the connections and exchanges between Italy and Japan.
Grazie e buona serata.