The fiery folk art of flamenco is more than just a dance -- it's an entire culture. And that culture -- the dances, songs, guitar-playing and rhythms -- are all fueled by the mysterious spirit of duende.
Duende is behind all Spanish arts. It is what lends an earthy, intoxicating quality to everything from painting and architecture to poetry, festivals and, of course, that quintessential Spanish ritual of the bullfight. The spirit of duende, minus the matadors, can be fully indulged this week when flamenco artists from Spain arrive in Tokyo for the first-ever Flamenco Festival.
Despite Japan's reputation for emotional restraint, flamenco has long been an obsession here. In Tokyo, numerous flamenco classes, as well as Spanish restaurants that offer live dance shows to complement their paella, attest to the popularity of flamenco. And while the magical quality of pure duende may not always be fully present, clearly the two cultures have long been drawn together.