Japanese culture celebrated in Barcelona

Nissan electric cars are made in Barcelona. Nikken Sekkei, one of the most important architecture companies worldwide and designer of the Tokyo Skytree tower, was chosen to remodel the Camp Nou stadium. And the Japanese electronic commerce company Rakuten is the main sponsor of F.C. Barcelona. More and more, Catalonia and Japan are building a closer relationship with one another, despite their geographical separation. 

For that reason, the Japanese Cultural Association began the Matsuri festival in Barcelona. And last weekend, it was held for the sixth year in a row, at the Moll de la Fusta, close to Barcelona port. Over 25,000 people visited it. Each year, it draws a bigger crowd. 

From noon to 9pm, the dock filled up with yukata (summer kimonos), yakisoba, dorayaki and traditional music from the far-eastern country. 

In Japan, there are four Matsuri festivals, one for each season. Their purpose is to bring happiness, prosperity, success and a good harvest to the Japanese people. They also serve to drive away bad spirits and disease. 

Traditionally, summer Matsuri is a spiritual celebration. It takes place at this time of the year, to coincide with a Japanese Buddhist custom: Obon. This is when ancestors come back home, and the Japanese honour them. But, nowadays, Matsuri is a festival in which people gather and have fun, according to the Japanese Cultural Association, formed by Japanese volunteers who reside in the Catalan capital. 

Six years ago, the association decided that Barcelona should host a Matsuri for the Japanese kids born here, in order for them to get to know their culture. As time went by, interest in the festival grew, and it began to attract people not only of Japanese origin, but also from further afield, locals and tourists alike. 

This year, eight Japanese artists performed at the Matsuri. All of them are well known in their home-country among those who like traditional music. They played Japanese instruments like the Shinobue (transverse flute), the taiko (traditional drum) and the Tsugaro Shamisen (a three-string guitar). Akira Katogi, a butoh performer, told Catalan News that music plays a very important role in Matsuri, since the tradition dictates that “music accompanies the gods when they come.” 

Butoh is a dance form in which performers often wear masks and grotesque costumes or have their bodies painted. By performing in slow-motion and with a lot of control, butoh dancers try not to appeal, but to startle and entertain.

Catalonia and Japan: an old friendship 

The Japanese consul in Barcelona, Naohito Watanabe, called this year’s festival “a commemorative event of the birth of the diplomatic relationship between Japan and Spain, which signed a friendship and commerce treaty in 1868.”

On behalf of the Barcelona Town Hall, Lluís Gómez, explained that the relationship between Japan and Barcelona has always been intense, as the Catalan capital is the traditional entry point to Spain, and sometimes to Europe, for Japanese companies. “We share a lot of interests with Japan,” said Gómez. 

Moreover, Japanese culture has become very popular in the city. Indeed, there are 332 Japanese food restaurants in Catalonia. “We love their gastronomy and their traditional festivals”, added Gómez. 

Catalonia has also become a major tourist attraction for the Japanese. Although only 2,790 Japanese people live in Catalonia (approximately 1,800 of which in Barcelona), over 600,000 visit Spain every year. And the vast majority of them come to the Catalan capital. 

“The Japanese are attracted by Gaudí’s buildings and other great architects. We love them: Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Casa Batlló,” explained Mr. Watanabe. The consul also told Catalan News that the Mediterranean climate, the beaches and Catalan gastronomy are also reasons why so many Japanese people visit Barcelona. “Also, there are no earthquakes and natural disasters here, which we appreciate,” he joked. 

Both countries continue working to make their relationship stronger. From now on, young Catalans can use a visa to work temporarily in Japan. They can visit the country as tourists, while they work there for one year as Spanish teachers or at Starbucks, for instance. For those who cannot, but still are interested in its culture, the Matsuri is a great opportunity. Next year, Barcelona will once again hear the call of this festival: Wasshoi!