Why are Italian chefs visiting Japanese schools?

Japanese food education is gaining global attention, and they aim to experience it firsthand to deepen their understanding of Japanese food culture.

Who do they perform farming activities with?

They will engage in activities like rice planting alongside 5th-grade students in a small garden-turned-paddy at the school.

What is the goal of this exchange?

To provide students with a chance to deepen cross-cultural understanding and to promote the value of Japanese food education overseas.

Popular Italian Chef Infiltrates Japanese School Lunch! A Project for Food Education and Cultural Exchange

Published May 20, 2026 6:00 PM ・ Updated Jun 14, 2026 12:01 AM ・ 4 min read ・ Source: PR TIMES

Chefs from the Italian restaurant 'Lu Experience Ristorante' are visiting Japan to participate in school lunch kitchen observations, food education classes, and rice-planting experiences at elementary schools in Tokyo.

Alex Lusell, owner-chef of 'Lu Experience Ristorante' in Parma, Italy, along with young chef Andrea Fazio, is visiting Japan to experience school lunches. In recent years, Japanese school lunches have gained global attention as a leading example of 'shokuiku' (food education).

During this visit, they will experience the actual environment and deepen their understanding of Japanese food culture. At the host school, Higashikurume City No. 9 Elementary School, warm, handmade school lunches are provided through an on-site cooking system. Furthermore, nutrition teacher Kyoko Matsumoto records daily cooking scenes and screens them during lunch, allowing students and staff to learn about the preparation process.

In the third period, fifth-graders will study 'rice' in their general studies class. As an example of Japanese cuisine spreading worldwide, Mr. Lusell will deliver a lecture on why he aspired to become a Japanese chef and interact with the children. In the fourth period, they will join the fifth-graders in a small paddy converted from a school flower bed to plant rice.

This initiative aims to promote the value of Japanese food culture and food education abroad, fostering international mutual understanding.

[Scheduled Schedule] 1. Higashikurume City No. 9 Elementary School Date: Thursday, May 28, 2026, 9:00–10:00 Lunch cooking observation, 10:35–11:25 Food education class, 11:30–12:15 Rice planting Location: 3-2-30 Takiyama, Higashikurume City, Tokyo Students: 66 fifth-graders, 3 teachers, Food Education Teacher Kyoko Matsumoto

2. Nakano City Kamisaginomiya Elementary School Tuesday, May 26, 12:45–15:10 Rice lesson and rice planting

3. Nakano City Musashidai Elementary School Wednesday, May 27, 12:45–15:10 Rice lesson and rice planting * Guest lecturer Kanatsu Sasaki, who produces sake in Cape Town, South Africa, will participate.

4. Meguro City Gohongi Elementary School Thursday, June 11, 10:35–11:25 Remote rice-planting instruction

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Source: PR TIMES
Category: Event
Organizations: Lu Experience Ristorante

Popular Italian Chef Infiltrates Japanese School Lunch! A Project for Food Education and Cultural Exchange

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