Vive l'Art de Vivre !

Hironobu TSUJIGUCHI (辻口 博啓) - Participation in the Talk-Show from 4:20 PM to 4:50 PM and the cocktail reception from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Will attend the talk show and the cocktail reception

Renowned pastry chef and chocolatier Hironobu TSUJIGUCHI has represented Japan at some of the world's most prestigious international pastry competitions, including the Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie, where he has won numerous awards.

He is the founder of Mont St. Clair in Jiyūgaoka, Tokyo, and oversees several brands, each with its own unique concept. In 2014, he opened his first overseas boutique, Mont St. Clair Seoul, in South Korea.

At the prestigious Club des Croqueurs de Chocolat (C.C.C.) chocolate awards, presented annually during the Salon du Chocolat in Paris, his creations received the highest distinction for nine consecutive editions (2013–2018 and 2023–2025). In 2019, marking the competition's 25th anniversary, he received the Best of the Best Award, recognizing him as the finest chocolatier among all those previously honored by the Club des Croqueurs de Chocolat. In 2015, he also won the Gold Award in the Chocolate Bar category at the International Chocolate Awards – World Final.

Beyond his work as a pastry chef, Hironobu TSUJIGUCHI is actively involved in regional revitalization through sweets, product development and collaborations with companies, consulting, public speaking, and publishing. Widely recognized as one of Japan's leading pioneers in low-sugar desserts, he has developed and supervised numerous low-carb ("locabo") confectionery creations.

He also serves as Principal of the Super Sweets School in Ishikawa Prefecture and as President of the Japan Sweets Association, where he is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of pastry professionals and promoting Japan's pastry culture. The association administers the Sweets Concierge Certification and advocates the concept of "Sweets-iku," an educational approach that fosters personal development through the art of pastry making.

In 2015, he served as pastry advisor for Mare, NHK's morning television drama series.

In January 2019, the documentary LE CHOCOLAT DE H, which follows his creative journey and passion for chocolate, was released. The film was officially selected for screening at the 45th Seattle International Film Festival, held from May 16 to June 9, 2019.

Tadashi AGI (亜樹直) - Participation in the talk show from 5:00 PM to 5:30 PM and the cocktail reception from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Tadashi AGI is the shared pen name used by a brother and sister, the writers behind numerous bestselling manga series, including The Drops of God and The Kindaichi Case Files.

The Drops of God has been translated into French, Korean, Chinese (Taiwan), English, and several other languages, with more than 10 million copies sold worldwide. The series has enjoyed particular acclaim in France. In 2009, it was selected for the Official Selection of the Angoulême International Comics Festival and received the Hall of Fame Award at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, often referred to as the "Oscars" of cookbook publishing.

In 2011, the brother-and-sister duo behind the pen name Tadashi AGI was appointed chevaliers de l'Ordre du Mérite agricole in recognition of their contribution to promoting French wine around the world. In 2018, they were appointed chevaliers de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government. In March 2026, they were promoted to the rank of officiers de l'Ordre du Mérite agricole.

The live-action adaptation of The Drops of God, starring Tomohisa Yamashita and released in 2023, won the Best Drama Series award at the 52nd International Emmy Awards. The anime adaptation, released in 2025, has also enjoyed great success.

Shin KIBAYASHI

After graduating from the School of Political Science and Economics at Waseda University, Shin KIBAYASHI joined Kodansha Ltd. as a manga editor, where he played a key role in developing the stories of hit series such as Shoot! and GTO.

Since becoming an independent writer, he has written under several pen names and created the original stories for numerous bestselling manga, including The Kindaichi Case Files, The Drops of God, and BLOODY MONDAY. He also conceived the television drama HERO and is the author of the Doctor White novel series (Kadokawa), which was adapted into a television drama in January 2022.

In 2009, he became the first recipient from Asia to be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, often referred to as the “Academy Awards of food publishing.”

The French government has awarded him the rank of Officier de l’Ordre du Mérite agricole and Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in recognition of his contributions to gastronomy and culture.

In addition, the French television adaptation of his signature work, The Drops of God, won the International Emmy Award in 2024.

Yūko KIBAYASHI

Born in Tokyo, Yūko KIBAYASHI is a manga writer as well as the author of nonfiction books and columns. Her nonfiction works include Akubi Ikkai, 40 En (Shogakukan), Matsumoto Kiyoshi-den: Sugu Yaru-ka o Tsukutta Otoko (Shogakukan), and Kigyōka-tachi no Tōkon: Jidai no Kaze o Yonda Dokusō Business (Nihon Jitsugyō Shuppansha).

She is also the author of the medical reportage Byōki ni Naru Hito, Naranai Hito, Soshite Naoru Hito (Shogakukan).

Her other publications include Kami no Shizuku Sakka no Nommelier Nikki, a collection of columns originally published intermittently on Asahi.com (Kodansha), and Kami no Shizuku Wine Shittaka Book (Shufu no Tomo Sha).

Bebechan - Participation at the cocktail reception from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Bebechan is a French Youtuber, originally from Nice, living in Japan. His YouTube channel "Bebechan - French in Japan" has over 865 000 subscribers, and he has over one million followers on social media. He shares the charm of Japan and the wonders of Japanese culture through a French lens. Aiming to become a bridge between Japan and France, he is also developing activities focusing on the charms of both countries: in 2023 he published his first book, “French People Don't Say Bonjour.'', and in 2024, he opened a cake shop called “Charles-Henry” in Daikanyama, Tokyo.