Castellers to perform across Japan in landmark trip
Two hundred members of the Castellers de Vilafranca will travel to Japan from 5 to 16 November in what organisers describe as the most distant journey ever undertaken by a casteller group. The trip will include over ten performances in cities including Tokyo, Yokohama, Fuji, Fujinomiya, Osaka and Kyoto, with a special focus on symbolic locations such as Mount Fuji. The group will travel in two waves: 100 members departing on 5 November and another 100 on 6 November. All participants will return to Barcelona on 16 November at the same time. According to the group’s president, Ernest Gallart, the expedition marks a historic milestone for the colla, surpassing their previous furthest trip to Chile in 2008.
Performances and cultural exchange
The itinerary includes five days in Tokyo and four in Osaka, with travel between the cities by coach to allow a stop at the base of Mount Fuji. One of the key moments of the trip will be an attempt to build a human tower with the iconic mountain in the background, aiming to create a defining image of the tour. The visit will also feature cultural and educational activities. The castellers will meet with the Castellers de Tòquio, a local group formed in 2024 with ties to the Castellers de Sants and Waseda University. They will also visit a century-old Tokyo school to share casteller values with students. A new initiative includes a collaboration with Waseda University through the Castells and Health Chair, involving talks and tower-building workshops. The trip coincides with the Year of Gaudí, reflecting the architect’s popularity in Japan and strengthening cultural ties between Catalonia and the country.
Support and organisation
The expedition was initially planned as part of a government mission linked to Expo Osaka 2025, but was postponed due to bureaucratic and organisational difficulties. Undeterred, the colla moved forward independently, supported by the Generalitat, the Ajuntament de Vilafranca del Penedès, the Diputació de Barcelona, the Spanish government, the Japanese consulate in Barcelona, and several collaborating companies. The trip continues a tradition of international outreach, following previous exchanges in Mexico and San Francisco. Participants were selected based on technical ability, commitment to rehearsals, and years of involvement with the group. Each member will cover only a portion of the total costs, with institutional and private funding making up the remainder.
Primary sources: do.diba.cat, cido.diba.cat, govern.cat, exteriors.gencat.cat, patrimonicultural.diba.cat. Reported by exterior.cat, elmoncasteller.cat, castellersdevilafranca.cat, acn.cat, RTVVilafranca.
