2024: Hundreds of Italian fashion and food companies in Japan

A total of 115 companies, representing the apparel, leather goods and footwear sectors, participated in Moda Italia & Shoes from Italy. International buyers from countries such as Australia, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea, invited by their respective ITA Agency offices, underlined the global appeal of Italian fashion and craftsmanship, fostering fruitful collaborations between Italian artisans and international markets.

In 2023, Italy, with a share of 3,92%, ranked as the sixth largest foreign supplier of apparel to Japan, after Asian countries, with a remarkable increase in export value (+33% compared to 2022). For leather goods, Italy was the second largest supplier after China, with a market share of 23,84% (+35,33%). In leather footwear, Italy has the lion’s share of the Japanese market with a 37,27% share (+30.63%).

Italy seized new opportunities for growth and collaboration in the food sector too. 

In 2023, Japan's imports of agri-food products amounted to approximately 9.400 billion yen, marking a slight decrease of 3% compared to 2022. However, imports from Italy increased by 5.1%, reaching 152 billion yen, representing an all-time high. The increase in imports from Italy has not only helped Italian exporters to regain market shares but also highlighted the growing importance of Italian agri-food products in the Japanese market.

Foodex Japan 2024, where the Trade Promotion Section of Italian Embassy has been organizing the Italian Pavilion for years, has been the most important event to promote Italian food & beverage sector, with 190 exhibitors and a rich program of seminars and cooking shows. It was also the occasion to present and support the nomination of Italian cuisine as a UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage element, to further highlight the global recognition and appreciation for Italy's rich gastronomic heritage and culinary culture.

Source: Italian Trade Agency, Tokyo office