Bringing the beauty of Japan to LA

When JAPAN HOUSE decided to open a third location — only the third in the world — they really wanted it to be unique. A place filled with people that have a hunger for learning about different cultures. When all was said and done, they decided on Los Angeles, California.

“The choice of LA was correct because people are moving into California, and this is where the artists are gathering now,” said Yuko Kaifu, President of JAPAN HOUSE LA. “There are so many interesting things going on in Southern California.”

JAPAN HOUSE is a public diplomacy initiative of the Japanese government, meant to nurture a deeper understanding of Japan. It showcases the best art, science, technology, innovation, design, fashion and food. “It’s my hope that people come and have a great experience, and learn something they have yet to know about Japan,” said Trast Howard, Senior Curator, JAPAN HOUSE LA.

JAPAN HOUSE partnered with JLL to build out their space in Hollywood. Reynaldo Osegueda, Senior Project Manager for JLL, immersed himself in the Japanese culture before starting the project so he could help them visualize their design and achieve their goals of making it a place that embodies all that Japan has to offer.

“The experience is intended to be as you’re walking outside in the countryside in Japan, you walk out the door, and you have this long passage and the first thing that you see is the façade with charred wood, which is very common in Japan,” says Osegueda.

“JLL was great in expediting the process with the construction and went out of their way to help us,” said Kaifu. “The reaction of the people who come to the second floor first, they are amazed, because of the branding, because of the sophisticated, refined atmosphere that both the shop and exhibition present."

“It was a very detailed process, that required a lot of time and energy on everybody’s part,” said Howard. “And looking at the outcome, I can say we’re very happy to have had the opportunity to work with JLL.”

JAPAN HOUSE is located in the Hollywood & Highland entertainment complex (home to the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Dolby Theater, where the Academy Awards are held each year) and occupies both the second and fifth floors there. The second floor features a large exhibition gallery, a sub-gallery for smaller exhibits and a shop featuring Japanese wares. The fifth-floor space includes Inn Ann, a fine-dining restaurant; a library, a multi-purpose venue for events, and incredible views of Los Angeles, including the iconic Hollywood sign.