On 31 May 2025, the House of Japan Boutique will officially open at 17 Avenue Émile Reuter in Luxembourg City. An exclusive pre-opening event was already held on 28 May, where invited guests from the media, cultural and culinary sectors were offered a first look at the concept.
The boutique is the latest initiative by Makiko Countess von Oberndorff, a certified sake sommelier and founder of Global Link Sàrl. With years of experience in importing Japanese products and as president of the Japan Luxembourg Association, she aims to bring Japanese culture to life in Luxembourg through workshops and educational programmes.
House of Japan is much more than a retail space. In addition to selling a carefully curated range of Japanese products – including sake, sweets and teas – the boutique also hosts cultural workshops and events. One dedicated room is used for sake tastings, while another is reserved for traditional tea ceremonies. “We don’t just want to sell products – we want to share Japanese culture,” Countess von Oberndorff explains.
The undisputed star of the collection is sake, still relatively unfamiliar to many in Luxembourg. Often mistaken for a simple digestif in Chinese restaurants, high-quality Japanese sake plays in a league of its own. “Sake is like wine – it goes with many dishes, not just Japanese cuisine,” says Makiko. It has less acidity than wine and is rich in amino acids, giving it a distinctive, aromatic flavour. Made from just three ingredients – rice, water and koji mould, which triggers fermentation – sake follows what one might call a Japanese purity law.
Regular introductory and sommelier-level sake courses will be held in the new boutique to help demystify this refined drink and introduce it to new audiences.
The House of Japan Boutique opens to the public on 31 May 2025 and is open Tuesday to Saturday from 12:00 to 19:00. It invites both Luxembourgers and international visitors to explore the richness and depth of Japanese culture.
