Back in prewar Japan — when there were still titled nobility — it was the duty of the upper class to engage in philanthropic activities, promote art or spread foreign culture here.
Among the fruit of such activities was the establishment of the Italian Cultural Institute in the heart of Tokyo, which started out as a research institute for intellectuals and later flourished as a foothold to spread Italian culture in Japan.
Situated in today's Chiyoda Ward, it will celebrate its 70th anniversary Friday.