Throughout the world, Italian designer brands immediately come to mind when one thinks of fashion. In terms of price, these brands perform lower in their native Italy than they do abroad. Even so, the price of these Italian brands in Italy does not make them a favorite among the Italians themselves--which makes sense considering the country's economic conditions. Furthermore, the reality is that most Italians prefer the unique clothing sold in individual local shops to the stereotyped high-end products sold in brand shops. It is not surprising that the country produces so many famous designers: Italians seem to have a fashion sense that outshines those in other countries. Even everyday businessmen can be seen wearing colored shirts and showy ties--while projecting a strikingly well dressed image that never seems gaudy. While Japanese feel safer putting like colors together, fashion sense for the Italians is something different. Of course, current fashion and trends are important, and young people today have specific preferences when it comes to shirt colors, patterns, and styles. For middle-aged and older men, a common fashion theme is pairing classic navy or grey suits with khaki-colored belts and shoes. The pairing of a muted suit with a pop of bright khaki is representative of the uniquely Italian sense of style. Another distinct feature is the addition of a more dramatic, brightly colored tie for almost all occasions.

In terms of accessories, the Italians are known for their leather goods--briefcases, shoes, and belts that have the depth and character of well-worn items. Within Italy, Florence is the capital of leather crafting, with its many leather craftsmen and workshops. Briefcases in particular are a leather item that many Italians have custom made, selecting a design and color that suits their individual needs and sense of style.

You may be wondering why so many Italians are fashionable in the first place. In fact, the Italians' keen sense of style, natural originality, and charismatic ability to sway world at large have their historical roots in Italy's well-known Levant commerce and the Renaissance.

With a history that is often glorified the world over, Italians take pride in their native architecture, cuisine, and clothing--working hard to refine their sense of style with a commitment that surpasses most others. The Italians have their local pubs, shops, and even local craftsman's workshop where they enjoy meeting each other and exchanging ideas, while taking care to nurture the relationships that form among these daily interactions. Associating with people like this certainly widens one's circle of friendships, and for many, supports one's business dealings as well.

Florence is an ancient city designated as a World Heritage site. The streets of the old town remain unspoiled to this day and cars are restricted from entering the city center. As a result of these restrictions, most people working in the city center use public transportation, while others, as Italians like being active, walk or ride bikes to work, partly for exercise. 

When I was working for a foreign company in Tokyo, I was surprised to discover that some of my non-Japanese colleagues would often go to the gym during lunch or jog to work. Even though I was in Japan, it felt like a form of culture shock, being so different from Japanese sensibilities.

One day during lunch I spotted a colleague who had just come back from the gym and I asked him, "Do you go to the gym every day?" With a smile, he replied, "Well, maybe five or so times a week." Wow, what an interesting reply! Since our company had a five-day work week, five times a week meant he went to the gym every day during lunch.

Although I thought some "light" exercise might be good for a change of pace and might help one work more efficiently in the afternoon, I knew that I would not be able to do the same thing. 

Perhaps Japanese office workers who do not get enough exercise should look to my colleague as an example. Still, since many Japanese are too diligent in everything they do, they would be hard-pressed to imitate the foreign residents who "lightly" exercise. Most Japanese would end up doing a strenuous workout, which might affect how they work in the afternoon, if they went to the gym during lunch. If they ran (or jogged) to work in the morning, they might sprint all the way and find themselves worn out by the time they reached the office.

It is quite common for people to go to the gym during lunch in Italy as well. The religious tradition in Italy is to keep holidays for rest and relaxation and such is the character of the nation. Thus, it may be rational to spend your lunch break or commute on "light" exercises and rest on holidays.

The idea that Japanese business men work well after-hours, and then go out to drink with co-workers rather than going straight home, is accepted throughout the world as an aspect of Japanese society. There are even Italians who sincerely believe that kimono-clad Japanese wives wait with baited breath in the entryway for their gallant husbands. That is of course highly rare in this day and age, but it's certainly true that many Japanese workers stop for a drink with their co-workers on the way home.

Compared to Japanese society, many European and American people certainly seem to place more value on time spent with their families. However, food culture might also be a factor in the respective detours Italian and Japanese workers might take on their home. For example, Italy does not have the food culture of eating many foods from numerous small plates, so the "izakaya" that Japanese men enjoy stopping by on their way home simply don't exist.

On the other hand, Italians often stop by what is called a "bar." The name is deceiving, since it they aren't establishments that specialize in liquor. They are an indispensable cafe to Italians, who love breakfast, light meals, and coffee. At these "bars," an assortment of olives, canapes, and other light fare are placed on the counter right when businessmen are on their way home, around six in the evening. After ordering a drink, patrons can eat all they like from this spread, free of charge. A drink before a meal is called an "aperitivo" in Italian (this is perhaps better known as its French incarnation, the aperitif). In Italy, to say "Let's get an aperitivo" is something akin to saying "Let's get some tea" in Japan, indicating a desire to go nibble on hors d'oeuvres while sipping a drink.

As I said before, Italians don't generally nibble on small items until they are full. Rather, they go get an aperitivo, nibble some all-you-can-eat snacks, then head for home, not staying long in the "bar."  After that, they eat dinner with their families. This is the smart Italian businessman's style.
 

Last time, I wrote about Italy's long lunch breaks, but did you know that its summer vacation is actually quite long, too? Mentioning this might make you think that Italians spend all their time on holiday, but rather than dilly-dallying about their jobs, they work hard and then play hard, returning to work refreshed.

Because there are many family-managed small businesses with flexibility, and because both large and small businesses take a holiday during the whole week of August 15 (the day of the Feast of the Assumption of Mary), many people take two weeks or more off. People in medicine, etc., are said to take their breaks on a rotation, but numbers of staff in medical facilities are greatly reduced. What a country!

There are statistics which say that 80% of the vacations to which they retire in droves are located in Italy, and 80% of those again are on the beaches and islands of southern Italy. One social factor influencing this is that Italy's economy is centered in the north, and as most people hailing from the south are living in the north, they return to their hometowns for holidays, but stronger still is the basic tendency of people to prefer the ocean for recreation.

In families that go to their hometowns on breaks, the children and mother typically head for the south as soon as school lets out, and the father joins them afterward. There are those, such as some of the younger generation, head for foreign countries, while other culturally-interested people sightsee at domestic historical sites, and still others who seek a respite from the heat escape to the mountains.

During this special mid-August season, urban office areas, stores, and supermarkets, etc. all close, and silence falls upon the streets. It is no overstatement to say that they lose all trace of human life.  It might resemble the way Tokyo has an empty-feeling atmosphere during the Obon season. However, Italy's big difference with Japan is that the period in question is not Japan's two or three days, but instead two or three weeks.

To Italians, summer vacations are the main event of the year. Things to which they look forward and think about all year are where and how they will spend this holiday, and many agonize over deciding. When summer gets close, people ask "What are you doing for vacations?" and as they return from the break with tanned skin, mutually boasting of break activities acts as a method of greeting. Indeed, summer vacations are extremely important, and are intimately intertwined with people's lifestyles. 　

If I had to give the biggest difference between the respective lunch breaks of Japan and Italy, it would have to be the time. Nearly all Japanese businesses, regardless of job type, adhere to a one hour lunch break, which ends right on time after eating. During lunchtime, coffee shops and restaurants are busy with customers, who are equally busy shoveling down their lunches.

In contrast, lunch breaks in European countries are a more easygoing affair, perhaps due to the influence of Spain's "siesta", a nap taken during lunch break. That said, the people in Italy who actually take a post-lunch nap nowadays are likely only retired older persons and young children.

Florence is known as one of the world's great cities of art, yet - and this is something I think most people who have been to Italy know - the town's central district is in fact closed for at least two and a half hours during lunchtime. Even taking into account the time it takes restaurants to prepare for dinner, it is notable that they remain closed some four to five hours after lunch. Owing to the long lunch breaks, even if you wish to shop in fashion-epicenter Italy, or sample the local spaghetti or pizza, you can't necessarily just do it on your own schedule. This is something that is unheard of in "customer first" Japan.

As for the lunch breaks of office workers at businesses and banks, the time averages from one and half to two hours. That's still a leisurely break when compared to that of a Japanese business.　

And what are Italians eating during that long lunch? Often, it is panini, pasta, risotto, or some other Italian mainstay, eaten at one of the many bars located in a given city. There is not as much menu variety as restaurants in Japan might have, but it satisfies Italians, who love their country's food. This time of year, bars place tables and chairs outside, and these outdoor seats fill with diners. Since a light tan is considered beautiful in Italy, there are many who eat outside and soak up the sun. This contrasts somewhat with lunch in Japan, where the climate is humid and light skin is the ideal of beauty.