The Osaka Italian Cultural Institute (IIC) is one of the 83 Italian cultural institutes currently operating around the world and, together with Tokyo, is one of two active institutes in Japan. It was created in October 1978, with the foundation of the Kyoto section of the Italian Cultural Institute in Tokyo, housed free of charge at the Nihon Italia Kyoto Kaikan. In April 2010, the section was moved to Osaka, inside a skyscraper in the heart of the city. The Institute moved again on 1 April 2013 to its current location on the 17th floor of the Nakanoshima Festival Tower, next to the Consulate General.
The IIC’s area of competence includes all of western Japan. Having moved to Osaka only recently, its main objectives include acting as one of the main points of reference of Italian culture within the city and surroundings, not only among the general public interested in Italy, but also by seeking to attract people with specific cultural interests (design, food and wine, cinema, music, etc.), not necessarily linked only to our country. With this in mind, the IIC has sought to improve the quality of the cultural services offered in the organization of events and improving awareness of Italian culture. These goals were made possible by the intensification of collaborations with public institutions, not only in Osaka and Kyoto, but also in other big cities (such as Kobe, Nagoya, Fukuoka and Kumamoto) operating above all in the cultural and social sector (especially universities, museums and municipal authorities). Furthermore, it has also collaborated with various Italian institutions and universities (such as the “”L’Orientale” University of Naples and the “”Ca’ Foscari”” University of Venice).
The IIC also offers a wide range of Italian language courses of various levels and the possibility for children to learn Italian while having fun. The Institute also provides courses in Italian language and culture in various locations outside Osaka (Ashiya, Nagahama, Nara, Sakai and Kitakyushu). In addition, thanks to its strong presence in western Japan, there are increasing numbers of study grants from Italian institutions every year, to the benefit of students who want to study in Italy.
It also has an open library, offering Italian books and magazines, comics and films, and a small area where you can consult them in peace, admiring the landscape from the windows of the Institute. The library also offers a loan service.
