The Napking in Osaka: Sicilian craftsmanship at the heart of Japan

Italian Fair at Hankyu Umeda

Some moments remind you exactly why you do what you do.

The Napking is proud to have taken part in the 40th edition of the Italian Fair at Hankyu Umeda, one of Osaka's most prestigious department stores and a landmark of Japanese retail culture. This year's edition carried a special resonance: a dedicated focus on Palermo, under the evocative title Profumo di Palermo, bringing the flavours, craftsmanship and culture of Sicily's capital directly to Japan.

A celebration of Palermo, on the other side of the world

Being selected as part of a curated group of Palermitan exhibitors, each representing a different facet of the city's identity, was an honour we do not take lightly. The fair brought together the best of Sicilian artisanship: a testament to the richness of a culture that has always known how to give beauty a practical form.

The inauguration was attended by the Italian Ambassador to Japan, the Consul General of Italy, the Councillor for Tourism of the City of Palermo, and the President and senior management of Hankyu, a gathering that spoke to the cultural and institutional significance of this event, far beyond the walls of a trade fair.

Why moments like this matter

The Napking was born in Sicily. Our roots are in Bellavia Ricami, a Palermitan manufacturing tradition that began in 1960, one that has always believed that the table is a place worth caring for, worth dressing with intention and beauty.

Taking that story to Osaka, to one of the world's most design-conscious cities, felt like a full-circle moment. A reminder that Sicilian craftsmanship needs no translation, it speaks for itself, in any language, at any table.

We are grateful to Hankyu Umeda, to the organisers of the Italian Fair, and to everyone who visited our stand and discovered The Napking for the first time.