Matsuri Festival: Japan in Barcelona’s Backyard

There is no better way to kick off the summer than immersing yourself in a festival state of mind and learning about a new culture without having to set foot on a plane. Today the team from ShBarcelona shares some interesting facts of the Matsuri Festival with you today.

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What is the Matsuri Festival?

Photo via Pixabay

The Matsuri Festival is coming up on June 8 and June 9. Now it in its seventh year, this lively festival brings Japanese cultural elements to Barcelona’s diverse population. Attendants will get to experience and learn about gastronomy, dance and games revolved around Japanese traditions and culture. In addition to seeing performances and tasting authentic Japanese food, attendants will be able to participate in workshops to learn about Japanese art and crafts. There will also be workshops that cater to young kids, so this event will be great for families.

The festival is put together by a local Japanese group that thrives on diverse traditions and cultures. With the help of many sponsors and the Japanese Alliance of Barcelona, this event has had huge success year after year. The growth indicates that the Japanese influence and interest in the culture is thriving in Barcelona.

The food vendors that will be at this festival are local to Barcelona and many have given traditional Japanese cuisine a Spanish tapas twist. Some of the menu items include Iberico pork with an Asian ginger sauce and shiitake meatballs. Many of the arts and crafts vendors are also found amongst Barcelona’s barrios. They will be displaying and selling everything from kimonos, chopsticks, anime art and other Japanese trinkets. All of these local businesses are examples of the thriving Japanese culture in Barcelona.

Bring your friends, family and dive into this cultural experience. You wouldn’t want to miss out on this once a year event!

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Info

When: Saturday June 8 and Sunday June 9 from 12:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Where: Moll de la Fusta

Photo via Pixabay

There are multiple performances each day including a dance from members in Gojyahei, which is one of the three official companies dedicated to the traditional Awa Odori Japanese dance. Also performing is the traditional taiko drum group, Dongara. Other musical artists include Shogo Yoshi, Rai Tateishi, Shinobu Kawashima.

Painting artists include Mitsuru Nagata who will be doing like Sumi-e painting for attendants to watch.

This event is free and open to the public. It is family friendly and caters to all ages!

What do you think of the Matsuri Festival in Barcelona?