On November 20th, the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) held a press luncheon at the Italian restaurant Antica Osteria del Ponte in Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, as part of the Italian government’s global culinary promotion, the World Week of Italian Cuisine. The event was organized with the cooperation of the Italian Academy of Cuisine. During the luncheon, Chef Stefano Dal Moro presented a course menu while introducing dishes featuring essential Italian seasonings such as olive oil, wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, and sea salt—the theme of this year’s event.
At the luncheon, the Italian Chargé d’Affaires stated, “The World Week of Italian Cuisine, a long-standing event, aims to promote Italian cuisine worldwide under the themes of health, culture, and innovation. Italian cuisine is more than just food—it fosters connections through cooking. This is why Italy has applied for its cuisine to be inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.”
The representative of the Academy’s Tokyo branch remarked, “Seasonings are the foundation of Italian cuisine; they are diverse and serve as symbols of regional identity.” The representative of the embassy’s Agricultural Promotion Office explained, “There are more than 20,000 Italian restaurants in Japan, with over 5,000 in Tokyo alone—the highest number outside Italy. Japan is a vital partner.”
Finally, Gianpaolo Bruno, Director of the Italian Trade Agency, said, “Italian agricultural products play a key role in driving Italy’s economy. The export value in FY2024 increased by 7.5% year-on-year, and growth continued at 6% in the first half of FY2025. Japan is a strategic market. With the cooperation of distribution partners such as AEON, exchanges are expanding and awareness is increasing through exhibitions. Japanese consumers have a strong interest in the quality and origin of Italian cuisine, and we hope to meet these expectations through our promotions.”
As part of the 10th World Week of Italian Cuisine campaign, the Italian Trade Agency, together with the Academy and Cardinal, is offering original menus highlighting seasonings at Italian restaurants and shabu-shabu specialty restaurants from November 24 to December 7.
