From television programs where he teaches Italian language to tutorials on carbonara with pancetta piacentina, to projects dedicated to rice farming. Who Girolamo Panzetta is and what he does, star in Japan.
The News
What can an Italian do in Tokyo? Much more than one imagines. Girolamo Panzetta, known in the Land of the Rising Sun as “Jiro,” embodies everything one could want in an ambassador of Italian culture: charm, versatility, and a keen ability to adapt. From the language of cuisine to the lands of the samurai, his story is a mosaic of exploits intertwined with traditions and innovations.
Originally from Avellino and raised in Naples, Panzetta arrived in Japan in the 1980s with the intention of writing a thesis on local architecture. That initial academic curiosity soon turned into a 30-year career on major Japanese television channels. From teaching Italian for NHK with the program Itariagokaiwa to a men's fashion icon on LEÒN magazine, Panzetta has been able to constantly reinvent himself, never forgetting his roots.
An important piece of Panzetta's success is related to cooking. His program Girolamo's Kitchen is a tribute to Italian excellence, from Emilian salumi to carbonara. The latter, in particular, is a symbol of his mission: to tell the Bel Paese through simple and authentic language. The episode in which he shows the execution of carbonara is a riot of tradition and pride, enriched by the participation of a producer who explains the processing of his PDO pancetta piacentina, used to make the sauce. With a narrative style that mixes romance and rigor, Panzetta describes Italian flavors in impeccable Japanese. His phrase “Buon appetito!”, the only concession to the Italian language, won over Japanese audiences.
In addition to cooking and fashion, Panzetta has started a sustainable agriculture project that combines technology and tradition, as told some time ago by Universinet. In the lands of Aizu-Wakamatsu, a place steeped in samurai history, “Jiro” grows organic rice under the “Fukunowarai” brand. The innovative “Aigamo” robot, inspired by a centuries-old technique of using ducks to remove weeds, is at the heart of this project. The robot floats autonomously in rice fields, reducing pesticide use and keeping biodiversity intact. But his efforts go beyond environmental sustainability: Panzetta has created a community that takes in young orphans, offering them a home and the chance to work in the fields. In a Japan where many rural areas are experiencing gradual depopulation, this project represents a rebirth for local communities.
Girolamo Panzetta is not just a celebrity, but an innovator who demonstrates how Italian roots can be a vehicle for progress. From cooking to fashion, from sustainable agriculture to social support, “Jiro” represents the union of tradition and the future. In an age when luxury is measured in quality of life and respect for the environment, Panzetta's story teaches us that cultural barriers can be overcome with creativity, passion, and commitment. To the Japanese public, he is not just “the most famous Italian,” but a symbol of how differences can enrich both worlds.
