-Food is culture and friendship between Italy, Japan says Cirio-

 OSAKA, Oct. 6, 2025/ANSA=Kyodo JBN/ -- 

Alba's white truffle, Piedmontese rice, Fassona meat, Alta Langa and Barolo wines were the protagonists of the institutional mission to Japan that culminated with the Piedmont Gala Dinner held in the Great Room of the W Hotel in Osaka with over 150 institutional guests and Japanese stakeholders Piedmont Governor Alberto Cirio highlighted that "our excellence can represent an economic engine that is increasingly important for exports, especially in light of the existing US tariffs, and which force us to boost other commercial relations".

"In Japan, like in Italy, food is culture and it becomes a bridge to strengthen friendship and create new synergies", he added.

The day opened with a tasting event of the Alta Langa DOCG sparkling wine, Piedmont's wine of 2025, guided by sommelier Akira Mizuguchi for a selected group of 25 journalists.

"Alta Langa is Italy's most ancient Classic Method with over three million bottles produced and a great margin for growth abroad", explained Trade, Agriculture and Food, Tourism, Sport and Post-Olympic, Hunting, Fishing and Parks Councillor Paolo Bongioanni.

In the evening, the Piedmont Gala Dinner offered an entirely Piedmontese menu created by chef Masato Miyane.

After a long experience in Italy, the chef brought to Japan iconic dishes such as veal with tuna sauce, tajarin pasta with white truffle and beef cheek in a Barolo sauce.

The courses were presented to guests by Bongioanni.

"Japan has shown great interest in our offerings, from Alba truffle to Fassona which joins Kobe meat, to wines for which we are working with Japanese air carriers.

"Occasions like this one are the most effective, because those who taste bring home a memory they can share, becoming a direct witness of Piedmont", he said.

Italy's Consul General in Osaka Filippo Manara stressed that the "agri-food sector is the second entry of Italian exports to Japan with nearly 2 billion a year", thanking Piedmont's delegation and greeting Ambassador Misawa, the Director General of METI Kansai Nobutani, the President of the Chamber of Commerce in Osaka Torii, as well as the Commissioner General for Italy at Expo 2025 Osaka Mario Vattani and the Italy Pavilion's team.

"Those who visited Expo in the past few days discovered how much Piedmont has to offer in terms of innovation, culture and gastronomy", said Manara.

"Tonight the protagonist is the white truffle of Alba", he added.

Vattani also hailed the positive outcome, speaking about "an extraordinary showcase, able to present Piedmont to tens of thousands of visitors with record numbers".

Bongioanni moreover announced new collaborations.

"From meat to rice and great wines, the Japanese market confirms" that it is a scenario "rich in opportunities", the councillor said. "Now it is up to us and producers to take advantage of these windows, because Japan loves Italy and can love Piedmont even more", he concluded.

Source: General Commissioner’s Office of Italy for Expo 2025 Osaka