Transmitted from Japan in Spain! The full story of “MANGA BARCELONA”

The Japanese culture festival “MANGA BARCELONA (Manga Barcelona)” is held every December in Barcelona, Spain. Approximately 165,000 people gathered for 4 days in 2023, making it the largest event of its genre in Japan. This event, which will be held its 30th in 2024, has nurtured Japanese fans across generations in Spain. I've watched this event capture the hearts of many visitors as an “opportunity to experience Japanese culture once a year.”

MANGA BARCELONA 2023
Period: 2023/12/7 (Thu) to 10 (Sun)
Venue: FIRA BARCELONA GRAN VIA
Official website:https://www.manga-barcelona.com/

Tickets sold out a month ago! Japanese fans gather at Manga Barcelona

“Manga Barcelona,” which is held every December on weekends when Spanish holidays overlap, is now a Barcelona winter tradition, and it is such a popular event that admission tickets for Saturday are sold out 1 month in advance. There were many booths that satisfied the visitors' desire to more deeply touch and experience the Japanese culture depicted there, with a focus on pop culture such as manga and games.

Surprisingly deep! Manga Barcelona product sales booth

　The beginning of “Manga Barcelona” was a group of Barcelona publishing companies that gathered to increase comic sales. Therefore, most of the exhibition booths mainly dealt with pop culture such as comics, anime, and games, and many famous companies such as Nintendo and Toei set up pavilions to cater to Spanish fans. Meanwhile, there is also a booth introducing not only “current trends,” such as comics from the 60s and 70s and pure literature such as Natsume Soseki and Tanizaki Junichiro. I was struck by the activities of Spain's “senior Japanese fans,” who are trying to further incorporate the younger generation interested in Japan in the wake of manga and anime.

Art, food, sports...
“Experience Japan” with Manga Barcelona

“Manga Barcelona” is gaining more fans every year as a place where you can experience Japan. A workshop area where you can experience calligraphy, daruma making, etc. was set up in the large aisle connecting the exhibition halls of each genre, and Japanese cooking courses, Japanese language courses, etc. were held side by side. Also, in addition to a food stall zone where you can enjoy a variety of Japanese foods, from ramen, rice bowls, melonpan to yudofu, a sports zone where you can challenge naginata, and a stage where you can see performances by artists from Japan, etc., all gather here. There was a sense of scale where you would need a full day even if you were running around, and the atmosphere was truly a “festival.”

Barcelona in December full of Christmas mood

Speaking of December, it's Christmas. A Christmas market was held in the town square, and it was so crowded with people that it was difficult to walk. Barcelona has a climate similar to Tokyo, and since it is relatively warm for Europe, many people enjoyed shopping and walking at night.

senseThe question is “presentExchange”

In Europe, where families spend Christmas, it is a major event where gifts are absolutely essential to exchange gifts along with a family meal. At the Christmas market, in addition to traditional dolls, trees, and ornaments, stands dealing with slightly unusual products for people who want to break the gift rut were seen everywhere. “Manga Barcelona” may be an attractive event, even in the sense that you can find gifts that are different from others.

[This article is also being read]

●Held in Taipei, Taiwan! “JAPAN ART WEEK IN BREEZE”

‍●Japan Expo Paris 2023 “WABI SABI Pavilion” Event Report

‍●Maison et Objet to exhibit at 2023 Interior & Design Hall of Fame