Bows and Arrows, the Haven of the Modern Japanese Art of Living

Located at 17 rue de Nazareth in Paris’s 3rd arrondissement, the boutique Bows & Arrows was opened in 2016 by the duo Thierry Lemoine and Arrow Nakajima, and contains the very best of the modern version of the Japanese art of living. Items from seventy brands are available, all of which had to meet demanding criteria before being displayed on the boutique’s wooden shelves. All of the items are exclusively made in Japan by qualified artisans and masters of art, enabling Bows & Arrows to present a palette of refined objects. These include cosmetics, a wide selection of stationery, and fashion and fashion accessories, but also organic food and a large quantity of arts and crafts.

Objects gathered through encounters with artisans

The selection was made by Thierry Lemoine and Arrow Nakajima, who have refined their talent as curators over the course of their many trips to Japan, having visited for 30 years, at least four times a year. ‘We met lots of artisans, discovered workshops and factories and visited all the exhibitions. We work on a “love at first sight” basis. Of course, we’re always on the lookout for new bestsellers, but if we discover a collection by an artisan or farmer that we find particularly nice, there’s a strong likelihood that we’ll feature their products in the shop’, Thierry Lemoine explains to Pen. 

‘Charlotte Perriand talked about “being a collector of beauty”: we want to follow in her footsteps. We may have lots of very traditional products, but the modernity or timelessness of their design is an important factor in our selection. The price is never part of the criteria: we have magnificent objects made by talented artisans that are worth no more than a few euros’, continues Thierry Lemoine. 

The boutique is not just a retail outlet; the couple also see it as a showroom for professional buyers and a meeting place where they invite their Japanese friends to organise events, exhibitions, or sampling sessions. For those unable to get to Paris, Bows & Arrows can be found on the internet, through an online shop that sells certain products offered in the boutique, from around one hundred different brands. 

Bows & Arrows, is a Paris-based boutique with items available on their website.
Address: 17 rue de Nazareth, 75003 Paris