Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno, received top LVMH executives including group chairman and chief executive, Bernard Arnault, plus LVMH Japan president, Norbert Leuret, during a May get-together at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo. [LVMH proposes new Japan ties in top-level visit – leatherbiz]
In the photo: Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH, third from the left, speaks on Monday with Hirokazu Matsuno, japan's chief cabinet secretary, second from the right, at the Prime Minister's office in Tokyo. The interviews were also attended by Tag Heuer CEO Frédéric Arnault, second on the left, LVMH Japan President Norbert Leuret, on the far left, and Yojiro Hatakeyama, on the far right, Director General of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
The meeting marked Mr Arnault’s first official visit with a Japanese government representative.
Significantly, LVMH made the following three proposals regarding its future business practices: when Japanese-made materials are used, the group will disclose this in global product descriptions; cooperation with local suppliers will be strengthened; collaboration with Japanese artists and artisans will be further promoted across the group.
LVMH inaugurated an Asian edition of its Institut des Métiers d’Excellence vocational training programme in Japan last year.
French luxury brand Kenzo, owned by LVMH, was founded by Japanese designer Kenzo Takada in 1970. Credit: Kenzo.
