Introduction:

 

In Spain, there is a town inhabited by people with the surname Japón, which means “Japan” in Spanish.

Around 400 years ago, a group of samurai travelled to Europe as part of a diplomatic mission. This journey coincided with a period in which Christianity was prohibited in Japan, and some members of the delegation are believed to have remained in Spain rather than returning. Today, people bearing the surname Japón in this town are often regarded as possible descendants of some of the earliest Japanese who settled in Spain.

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The work El Japonés positions the artist himself as “a Japanese person who has just arrived from Japan”, and Mrs. Japón as “a possible descendant of the earliest Japanese settlers in Spain”.

At first glance, the dialogue between them may appear as a simple affirmation of communication. However, they do not share a common language: one speaks Japanese, while the other continues the conversation in Spanish. Through this misaligned exchange, the juxtaposition of these two “Japanese” figures quietly unsettles assumptions around nationality, race, and belonging over time. The work takes “being Japanese” itself as its point of departure.

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Special thanks: Mr. and Ms. Japóns whom I met in Coria del Rio