ITALIAN COOKING IS THE PROTAGONIST OF THE JAPANESE TV PROGRAM “BAMBINO”: A WINDOW ON QUALITY MADE IN ITALY GOODS

Italian cooking, one of the most appreciated in Japan where it has appeared for years now in thousands of restaurants throughout the country, is now conquering Japanese TV. The most famous (and tastiest) dishes from the “Bel Paese”, together with the language of Dante, are the protagonists of a new program titled “Bambino”, a series set in an Italian restaurant in Tokyo.

Aired on NTV, one of the main national networks, the show revolves around “Ban-Bambino” (interpreted by rock idol, Jun Matsumoto), a young cook who departs from the deep south of Japan to take on the great metropolis and to work in the renowned restaurant “Baccanale”, located in the central neighborhood of Roppongi. Here, he learns the secrets of true Italian cooking, the right combinations of food and wine, and, a theme that is particularly dear to the Italian system, he also begins to distinguish genuine “Made in Italy” products from the numerous imitations that have invaded the food market around the world.

While the story follows more than one theme (personal stories that revolve around the tables and in the kitchen of the restaurant), the novelty is in the entirely Italian atmosphere of the program. The Italian language is often used, and not only for the dishes (“bistecca alla fiorentina, uno!”, “antipasto misto, due!”, yells the chef), but also for common expressions that create a lively and original window on Italian food and style for the Japanese public.

The “Bambino” project is not only on TV but also on the internet, where the official site dedicates large space to various recipes that have been used during episodes, as well as to learning Italian, a trend that is ever more popular among young Japanese.

The program has even been given the seal of approval by official Italian institutions in Japan: the Italian Embassy in Tokyo and the National Institute for Foreign Trade (ICE) have collaborated with the communications agency, Brain, which is in contact with the network of Italian restaurants, cafes, atelier, etc, that best represent Italy throughout the Japanese archipelago.