Umberto Donati, the 65-year-old director of the Italian Institute of Culture, is a force of nature when it comes to seizing every opportunity to introduce his country's paintings, books, art exhibitions and language courses to Japanese.

A vivid-red edifice near the Imperial Palace, IIC works under the Italian government to assist the Italian Embassy with cultural exchanges, organizing numerous Italy-related exhibitions in Japan.

One of Donati's strategies is "to collaborate with Japanese art institutions such as the National Art Center, Tokyo and Mori Art Museum," he said. Another key to the mission is to "be connected with mass media."