When people ask me what my favorite types of food are, I always return to two cuisines that couldn’t be more different yet somehow feel like mirrors of life itself: Italian and Japanese.

Italian food is comfort, community, and celebration. Japanese food is mindfulness, discipline, and simplicity. Together, they create a balance that I try to weave into my own journey.

Italian Food: La Dolce Vita on a Plate

Italian cuisine is built on the idea of la dolce vita—the sweet life. Meals are not rushed but lingered over. A simple plate of pasta al pomodoro, made with ripe tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil, becomes a reminder that life’s richness doesn’t need complexity. What matters is freshness, quality, and presence.

Every Italian table speaks of convivialità—the joy of being together. To sit down with family or friends over risotto or pizza isn’t just about eating; it’s about weaving bonds. For me, Italian food teaches that abundance is not about having more, but about sharing more.

Life is best savored slowly. Celebrate generously, love deeply, and don’t rush through what is meant to be enjoyed.

Japanese Food: Ikigai in Every Bite

Japanese cuisine reflects another philosophy—ikigai, the sense of purpose and meaning in everyday life. In a bowl of ramen or a tray of sushi, you find balance, precision, and respect for nature’s seasons. Portions are small, not to deprive but to remind you that satisfaction comes not from excess, but from harmony.

Every detail carries intention—the way rice is shaped, the artful cut of sashimi, the quiet respect given to the ingredients. From this, I’ve learned that simplicity is not emptiness but clarity.

True nourishment isn’t only about fullness—it’s about alignment. Eating, like living, is best when it’s mindful, balanced, and respectful of what sustains us.

What These Cuisines Teach Together

Placed side by side, Italian and Japanese food embody two truths of life:

• Italian food says: “Live fully.” Celebrate love, laughter, and abundance.
• Japanese food says: “Live mindfully.” Honor simplicity, precision, and purpose.

Together, they remind me that life is not one-dimensional. We need both—the warmth of overflowing tables and the quiet grace of intentional living. Too much of one without the other leaves us unbalanced.

💡 Lesson of the day: Food is never just about taste. It carries culture, history, and wisdom. Italian and Japanese cuisines may be my favorites, but they are also my teachers—reminding me to live with both passion and peace, abundance and restraint, community and mindfulness.

References

• Ikigai: Garcia, H. & Miralles, F. (2017). Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life. London: Hutchinson.
• Italian food and conviviality: Montanari, M. (2006). Food Is Culture. New York: Columbia University Press.
• La Dolce Vita and Italian lifestyle: Gronow, J. & Warde, A. (2001). Ordinary Consumption. London: Routledge.