Ayumi Kondo

Co-Founder & Co-Owner

Ayumi Kondo is co-owner and a cultural bridge builder at NIPPON AGENCY. Born in Tokyo and raised in Austria, she brings not only a deep understanding of the culinary diversity and traditions of her home country, but also many years of experience in international business development and cross-cultural communication. She was appointed Austria’s first “Japanese Cuisine Goodwill Ambassador” by Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Through her long-standing involvement in the family business—the first Japanese supermarket in Austria, Nippon-Ya, founded in 1974 by her father Tsuneyasu Kondo in Vienna’s 4th district—her passion for Japanese cuisine was instilled in her from an early age.

Her strong interest in Austrian history and culture initially led her to train as a licensed tour guide for Austria. The intercultural knowledge she gained and her deep understanding of both cultural spheres later became central to her entrepreneurial work. After taking over the management of Nippon-Ya, she consistently expanded her network and specialized in the import of high-quality Japanese food products, regional specialties, and traditional delicacies.

Today, she combines profound market expertise with cultural competence and stands for authentic quality at the interface between Japan and Austria.

Ayumi is responsible for:

  • Selecting and supporting Japanese producers

  • Cultural and linguistic mediation between the Japanese and Austrian markets

  • Quality assurance and on-site product presentation

With great passion, she is dedicated to bringing the stories, craftsmanship, and flavors of genuine Japanese products to Europe in an authentic and respectful way. Her goal is not merely to sell products, but to create a true cultural experience—whether through a sake tasting, a pop-up event, or a carefully curated product range for retail.

  • Contact:

  • ayumi@nippon-agency.at

  • +43 664 510 7810

Wolfgang Krivanec

Co-Founder & Co-Owner

Wolfgang Krivanec is the strategic driving force behind Japan Agency. With extensive expertise in marketing, sales, as well as gastronomy and hospitality, he combines entrepreneurial thinking with cultural depth, creating sustainable bridges between Japanese producers and the European market.

His close connection to Japan is the result of many years spent in Asia and an in-depth engagement with Japanese culture, cuisine, and aesthetics. As a certified sake sommelier and a chef trained in Japanese cuisine, he possesses a profound understanding of craftsmanship, traditional production methods, and the diversity of regional sake styles. This passion laid the foundation for the establishment of Japan Agency.

As the initiator and founder of Sake Week Vienna and the CSFF – Craft Sake Food Fair Vienna, Wolfgang Krivanec has played a key role for many years in shaping the visibility of Japanese food and beverage culture in Austria and across Europe. Under his leadership, both formats have developed into established platforms for producers, importers, industry professionals, and consumers.

Wolfgang is responsible for:

  • Strategic market positioning and brand development in Austria

  • Building sustainable distribution and retail partnerships in both retail and gastronomy

  • Conceptualizing and executing high-quality events, tastings, and international trade fair appearances

With a keen sense for trends, target audiences, and authentic storytelling, Wolfgang Krivanec represents a clear vision: to establish Japanese products in Europe in a quality-driven, contemporary, and credible way.

His goal is to provide Japanese producers with professional, transparent, and long-term successful access to the European market—based on mutual respect and sustainable added value for both sides.

  • Contact:

  • wolfgang@nippon-agency.at

  • +43 660 599 7579