From Japan to Madrid: A Father, a Son and Their Roots

Archive: a recollection of the 2026 journey, first published on 2 August. Times and ages belong to that moment, not to current travel information.

A father and a son, an incredibly long flight, and the beginning of a journey back to our roots.

It is a quarter past six in the morning, and our journey to Spain has just begun.

Last night we went to bed at almost two, and by five we were already up. We have barely slept three hours, so we leave home feeling desperately sleepy… but also incredibly excited.

The suitcases were packed, and everything was written down on a checklist. At least the truly important things were coming with us: passports, documents, tickets, mobile phones, and a great eagerness to begin this adventure.

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Before we left, Teo said something that really touched me:

Sometimes children do not show everything they feel, but that sentence helped me understand that this trip was very important to him too.

Teo is 17 years old and carries two cultures within him: Japan and Spain. This trip is an opportunity to connect more closely with his family, his roots, and a part of his history that is usually very far away.

This trip is also possible thanks to the teachers at BG Flamenco Academy. While we are away, they have stayed behind to keep the studio running, coordinate among themselves, and also look after Batres. Although they are not physically with us, I want them to be part of this journey and every one of these video blogs.

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From home, we went to Toneri-kōen and continued on to Nippori. There we took the 7:25 Skyliner to Terminal 2 at Narita Airport.

Teo was wearing the glasses his sister Sonia gave him for his 17th birthday on July 29. A small gift that has also set off on this journey with us.

We arrived at Narita with plenty of time to spare. We checked in our luggage, sorted out our documents, and had breakfast before boarding: hot dogs, juice, water, and a coffee to try to wake up a little. Although by that point, excitement was keeping us going more than rest.

At 11:10, we took off for Madrid.

An incredibly long flight lay ahead: films, music, a little sleep, conversations, and many hours during which you begin to feel that you are truly leaving one country and drawing closer to the other.

After so many years living in Japan, returning to Spain always stirs something special in me. But this time was different because I was not travelling alone. Teo was beside me, discovering each moment in his own way.

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We arrived in Madrid at 19:45.

As soon as we arrived at the airport, Teo began looking at the entire structure in complete amazement. He said it was enormous, impressive. I loved watching how something that might feel familiar to me was completely new to him.

As planned, George came to pick us up. He is my taxi-driver friend in Madrid and has been picking me up whenever I arrive in Spain for many years.

Before going to the hotel, George drove us past the Santiago Bernabéu stadium so Teo could see it. After so many hours inside a plane, that was his first special glimpse of Madrid.

We finally arrived at Hotel Mediodía, next to Atocha. We dropped off our suitcases and went out to buy something simple for dinner.

Two very Spanish sandwiches: one with pata negra ham and the other with Spanish omelette.

We did not need anything else. We were tired, sleepy, and still trying to work out what time our bodies thought it was… but we were in Madrid, together, and the journey had already begun.

Tomorrow, we will take the seven-in-the-morning AVE train to Córdoba.

That is where the most family-centred and deepest part of this story begins.

From Japan to Madrid. Two countries, two cultures, and a father and son beginning a journey that I am sure we will always remember.

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Highlighted Quotes

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Related Links

BG Flamenco YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@bgflamenco

Benito García’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benitogarcia_japon

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