Festivals - Japan Expo 2026: Tottori Prefecture Brings Its Manga Legacy and Culinary Heritage to Paris with Chef Kozo Makita

By Mulder, 06 july 2026

When Japan Expo 2026 opens its doors at the Parc des Expositions de Paris-Nord Villepinte from July 9 to 12, visitors looking beyond Japan's best-known destinations will once again have the opportunity to discover one of the country's most authentic regions. Returning after a well-received participation in 2025, Tottori Prefecture is making an ambitious comeback with a program celebrating the three pillars that have come to define its international identity: manga culture, regional gastronomy, and traditional craftsmanship. Located on the Sea of Japan coast, Tottori remains Japan's least populated prefecture, a distinction that has helped preserve spectacular natural landscapes, centuries-old culinary traditions, and a cultural identity that stands apart from the country's better-known metropolitan centers. Throughout the four-day event, visitors will be able to explore this distinctive heritage at booth N596, where tourism promotion will be intertwined with exclusive food experiences and encounters with iconic manga characters.

One of the exhibition's greatest strengths lies in its remarkable contribution to Japanese manga history. Rather than presenting generic pop-culture attractions, Tottori showcases creations deeply rooted in its own artistic legacy. The prefecture is famously known as the "Manga Kingdom," having given birth to legendary creators whose works have shaped generations of readers across the world. Visitors will be able to meet costumed versions of Kitaro, the supernatural hero created by Shigeru Mizuki in GeGeGe no Kitaro, alongside Conan Edogawa, the brilliant young detective from Gosho Aoyama's globally successful Detective Conan. Importantly, these characters are not promotional mascots created by the prefecture but internationally recognized manga protagonists whose creators both hail from Tottori, making their appearance especially meaningful. Scheduled meet-and-greet sessions will take place at the prefecture's booth as well as during dedicated events on the WASHOKU stage, offering fans rare photo opportunities while reinforcing the close relationship between Tottori and some of Japan's most beloved fictional universes.

The literary dimension of Tottori's heritage will also receive special attention through a tribute to Jiro Taniguchi, whose elegant storytelling and contemplative artwork continue to resonate strongly with European readers. Born in Tottori City, Jiro Taniguchi built an extraordinary reputation in France long before manga achieved mainstream popularity across Europe. His masterpiece Quartier Lointain (A Distant Neighborhood) remains one of the defining examples of manga embraced by French literary audiences, while his broader body of work earned him the distinction of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, highlighting the enduring cultural bridge between France and Japan. The celebration of his legacy arrives at a particularly fitting moment, as Tottori Prefectural Museum of Art is simultaneously presenting a major exhibition dedicated to his career, further reinforcing the prefecture's commitment to preserving and promoting one of its greatest artistic ambassadors.

Food lovers will find another compelling reason to visit the Tottori stand thanks to the arrival of Chef Kozo Makita, whose restaurants have become popular destinations for Japanese cuisine enthusiasts in Paris. Owner of Restaurant Kozo and Makobe Ramen in the French capital's 9th arrondissement, Kozo Makita, himself originally from Tottori, will prepare one of the prefecture's most distinctive regional specialties: Gyukotsu Ramen. Unlike the better-known pork-based tonkotsu ramen from Kyushu, Gyukotsu features a slow-simmered beef bone broth, producing a delicate yet deeply flavorful soup that remains relatively unknown outside western Japan. Prepared live throughout the event, the ramen will be offered free of charge in limited quantities, with only 300 servings available each day, making it one of Japan Expo's most anticipated culinary experiences. The demonstration not only introduces visitors to an uncommon regional recipe but also illustrates how local traditions can successfully travel abroad through chefs dedicated to preserving their culinary roots.

Complementing the gastronomic program will be an exploration of another cornerstone of Japanese food culture: sake. A representative of the Tottori Prefecture Young Brewers Association, who also serves as president of the historic Chiyomusubi Sake Brewery, will host a live masterclass on the WASHOKU stage dedicated to traditional sake production and contemporary food pairings. Rather than limiting the presentation to technical explanations, the session aims to demonstrate how authentic Japanese sake can be harmoniously integrated into French gastronomy through modern pairing techniques, highlighting the growing dialogue between two of the world's most respected culinary traditions. The demonstration reflects Tottori's broader ambition to present not simply products, but the craftsmanship, history, and philosophy behind them.

By combining internationally celebrated manga, refined regional cuisine, and immersive cultural demonstrations, Tottori Prefecture once again positions itself as one of the most distinctive institutional exhibitors at Japan Expo 2026. In a convention renowned for its celebration of Japanese popular culture, the prefecture offers visitors something more profound: an invitation to discover the landscapes, traditions, artists, and flavors that inspired many of the cultural icons now recognized around the globe. Through the presence of Chef Kozo Makita, the legacy of Shigeru Mizuki, Gosho Aoyama, and Jiro Taniguchi, and the expertise of Tottori's sake brewers, the prefecture demonstrates that its identity extends far beyond tourism promotion, presenting instead a living portrait of one of Japan's richest yet least explored cultural destinations.

(Source : press release)