ル(RU)- JAPAN 2026: Retro Experiences from the Legacy of the Shôwa Era

Building U (UOC), C/ del Perú, 52

The 1980s marked a turning point in our homes with the widespread arrival of 8-bit computers and consoles, sparking the vocation of an entire generation of professionals who use technology today. Japan was, and still is, one of the nerve centers of this revolution, coining terms such as Shōwa Retro (昭和レトロ), the admiration for the aesthetics of this Japanese era, which ended in this very decade, or Neo Shōwa (ネオ昭和), in which Generation Z combines this vision with that of the modern era (Reiwa, 令和).

The cultural impact of technologies originating from Japan was already tangible at that time in Catalonia and Spain, serving as another catalyst for the arrival of its culture. With the arrival of Japanese systems and video games, their original aesthetics did not go unnoticed among users of systems such as the MSX or the various consoles, whether in the software itself or in other related elements such as their art, music, magazines, and advertising. This helped create one of the solid foundations of today’s love for the culture of the Land of the Rising Sun, which has now reached an indisputable scale.

As an evolution of previous editions (2023, 2024), and retaining its fully educational spirit and openness to everyone, the ル(RU)- JAPAN event aims to explore these Japanese technologies and aesthetics connected to the world of digital culture in all their aspects, both from a retrospective perspective and through the impact that still endures in the modern era, while also serving as a showcase for contemporary creators. This includes both systems that reached the West and those that never left Japan’s borders.

Whatever computer you had, and whatever your age, this is an essential event for any computer enthusiast who wants to discover or remember how it all began and how the lessons from that time remain fully relevant today. Everyone is invited!

In collaboration with: