La Yunko Makes History

The First Non-Spaniard To Win at Cante de las Minas

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"When I dance I feel that the singing or the guitar enters my body directly through the skin and, as it reaches the depths of the body, like a cell, that's where I feel my dance comes from," says Junko Hagiwara, La Yunko - El Mundo to transmit the sensations that flamenco awakens in her.

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A few weeks ago, La Yunko won El Desplante, the dance prize awarded by the International Cante de las Minas Festival. She thus became the first non-Spanish dancer to win first place in the most important flamenco competition. "I had many doubts, I didn't know whether to enter, since young people appear in the contests, and I am old," She said after receiving the award. For a few seconds, the achievement was clouded when the artist went on stage to collect her statuette and received some boos from the audience. Perhaps it was because of her origin, perhaps out of mere envy. It doesn't matter. Art understands neither nationality nor resentment. Art only knows about talent, passion and dedication, elements that La Yunko demonstrated to have.

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From Spain, it is striking that in a country as distant and culturally different as Japan, there is interest in flamenco. So much so that it is even considered the "second homeland of flamenco." One of the reasons why it is believed to be so popular is because the sound of flamenco coincides with the oriental rhythm. At the same time, it has in common that the hoarse voice of the singers is reminiscent of oriental voices. Junko did her analysis. «In Japan, showing feelings is rude, it is frowned upon. People appear very strong in public. But in flamenco it is totally the opposite, you have to get the feeling outside. It is so contrary that perhaps that is why it attracts us Japanese.

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As flamenco has made her a passionate woman, Junko recognizes that she did not always see it that way. «There were moments when I sank, I hid any comments on social networks, but sometimes they reached me accidentally. "At that moment I was sinking." But kindness and the ability to recognize talent won the battle. «At the same time, since I receive so many messages of love and support, I appreciate it and it surprises me a lot. That becomes a very big strength for me to move forward. "I feel very happy apart from having such an important award and with a lot of responsibility."

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Historical Background‍

‍Flamenco on the International Stage

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International interest in flamenco began to flourish in the 1840s, partly due to the influence of European Romanticism, which celebrated strong emotions and folk art. Flamenco became emblematic of “Spanishness,” leading to increased European travel to Spain and a surge in literature about the country, particularly focused on Andalucíia, the birthplace of flamenco. Novels like "Carmen" (1845) heightened interest in flamenco dance.

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La Argentina, a renowned 19th-century flamenco dancer, played a pivotal role in popularizing flamenco through her international performances. She modernized the art form while drawing inspiration from Roma and Spanish peasant culture. In the 1950s and 1960s, flamenco gained further traction with international tours by companies like José Greco's, alongside the emergence of public venues such as peñas and tablaos. This increased visibility led to a rise in scholarly literature on flamenco, further solidifying its global appeal.

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