Longevity: In Tokyo, the Sardinian model meets the Okinawan model

(ANSA) - TOKYO, 17 OTT - The fifth edition of MeDiet Japan 2026, the international symposium on longevity and well-being organized by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ICCJ), took place at the United Nations University in Tokyo’s Shibuya district. The initiative, launched in 2021 to promote the Mediterranean diet in Japan and Asia, now serves as a platform for health and sustainable lifestyles, featuring a broad exchange of ideas among specialists in nutrition, lifestyle medicine, geroscience, genetics, sports science, and the social sciences. This year’s theme is “Longevity—The Italian and Sardinian Models in Global Dialogue”: the focus is on healthy aging, with a comparison between Sardinia and Okinawa, both considered “Blue Zones”—areas with a high concentration of centenarians. The topic takes on particular significance on the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Italy and Japan, two countries that rank among those with the highest life expectancy in the world. Among the speakers was Valter Longo, director of the Longevity Institute at the University of Southern California and creator of the fasting-mimicking diet, who participated via video link. Also in attendance were María Blasco, a telomere researcher and former director of the CNIO in Madrid; Bradley Willcox, head of the Okinawa Centenarian Study; and Héctor García, co-author of the bestseller “Ikigai.” There were four panels, dedicated to genetics and neuroscience, nutrition and the microbiome, social connections, physical activity, and cell biology. Longo emphasized how the integration of scientific research, nutrition, and diverse cultural perspectives is essential for understanding healthy longevity, and how evidence-based dietary approaches can help people live longer and better lives. Alongside the scientific aspect is the economic one. The Region of Sardinia participated with a delegation of agri-food companies, which met with Japanese importers and industry professionals in B2B sessions, with the goal of translating the prestige of the Sardinian model into commercial opportunities. For ICCJ Secretary General Davide Fantoni, the initiative sought to bring the topic back to a “strictly scientific and social” framework. Sardinia and Okinawa, he noted, serve as reminders that a long and healthy life depends first and foremost on diet, exercise, and relationships—a message that the Chamber intends to promote as opportunities for growth for Italian businesses. The symposium was followed by a day open to the public, featuring seminars, extra virgin olive oil tastings, and cooking demonstrations. Among the participants were Katsuya Iijima, director of the Institute of Gerontology at the University of Tokyo and a leading expert in the prevention of frailty, Satoru Yamada, advocate of the “locabo” approach to moderate carbohydrate reduction, and Dr. Yoshinori Nagumo, author of best-selling books on anti-aging. Also in attendance was 90-year-old triathlete Hiromu Inada, a record-holder at the Ironman World Championship. The event is sponsored, among others, by the Italian Embassy in Japan and the city of Shibuya.
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