Italian Cuisine Day (Itaria Ryōri no Hi)

What Is Italian Cuisine Day?

September 17th is "Italian Cuisine Day," established by the Japan Association of Italian Cuisine (Associazione Cuochi Cucina Italiana, ACCI), an organization centered on chefs of Italian cuisine. The date comes from the wordplay "Ku (9) + Chī (1) + Na (7)," echoing "cucina," the Italian word for "cooking" or "kitchen." The day aims to promote and develop Italian cuisine, introduce Italian culture, and improve cooking skills and knowledge.

Italian Cuisine: A Collection of Regional Cooking

Italy was divided into many states until the 19th century, and Italian cuisine is often described as a collection of regional dishes born from each area's climate and ingredients.

• Different flavors in the south and north: In Japan, Italian food is strongly associated with olive oil and tomatoes, but these are characteristic of southern Italy, such as Naples. In northern Italy, many dishes use butter and cream, as in neighboring France and Switzerland.
• Regional influences: Austrian and Slovenian influences can be seen in the east, while Sicily, close to North Africa, shows Arab culinary influences, with dishes such as couscous and arancini (rice croquettes).
• Birthplace of the Slow Food movement: The Slow Food movement, which began in Italy in the 1980s, called for protecting traditional local foods and food diversity in contrast to fast food, and spread around the world.

Recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

In 2010, the "Mediterranean diet" of Italy, Spain, Greece and Morocco was inscribed on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The art of the Neapolitan pizza maker followed in 2017, and in December 2025 Italian cuisine itself was added to the list, recognizing it worldwide as a food culture worth preserving.

Fun Facts About Italian Cuisine

• "Al dente" means "to the tooth": The phrase used for pasta cooked with a slight firmness at the center literally means "to the tooth" in Italian.
• The three colors of the Margherita: The Margherita, the classic Neapolitan pizza, is known for its red tomatoes, white mozzarella and green basil, matching the colors of the Italian flag.
• DOP (Protected Designation of Origin): Products such as Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma are covered by the EU's protected origin system, under which only products made in a designated area by traditional methods may use the name.
• The Catherine de' Medici story: It is often said that Catherine, who married into the French royal family from the Medici of Florence in the 16th century, brought Italian cooks and dining customs to France, though historians disagree on how much of this is true.
• The "Itameshi" boom in Japan: In Japan, the word "Itameshi" (Italian food) became a buzzword during the bubble era of the late 1980s and early 1990s, and Italian food became a familiar part of eating out.

Ideas for Italian Cuisine Day

• Share pasta or pizza with family or friends and enjoy conversation over the meal.
• Compare regional dishes, such as cream-based dishes from the north and tomato-based dishes from the south.
• Cook a simple Italian dish at home using seasonal vegetables.
• Take your time after the meal with an espresso or gelato.

A Day to Enjoy Rich Regional Flavors at the Table

September 17 is a day for enjoying Italian food, born from a wordplay on "cucina," the Italian word for cooking. Italian cuisine varies widely from region to region in both ingredients and seasoning, and its depth drew fresh attention when it was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2025. As autumn produce starts to appear, why not choose a regional dish a little different from usual and explore the breadth of Italian food culture?