Blai Guarné

Blai Guarné is a researcher at the University of Barcelona's Department of Translation and Interpreting and East Asia Studies, actively contributing to East Asian cultural studies through multiple research projects and scholarly publications. His work spans Japanese, Korean, and broader East Asian sociocultural dynamics within Spanish and Catalan contexts.

• Postdoctoral Fellowship in Cultural Anthropology, Stanford University (2010)
• PhD in Geography and History (Cultural Anthropology), University of Barcelona (2007)
• Interdisciplinary Cultural Studies, University of Tokyo (2005)
• Japanese Language and Culture Studies, University of Tokyo (2004)
• Licentiate in Geography and History (Cultural Anthropology), University of Barcelona (1995)
• Teaching Certification (CAP), University of Barcelona (1995)

Guarné's research centers on Japanese and East Asian cultural phenomena in Spain, examining topics like the Japanese/Korean cultural boom, student mobility during crises, and linguistic aspects of Katakana. His work bridges anthropology, political science, and cultural studies, with particular attention to post-pandemic societal shifts and historical continuities in East Asian cultural production. Recent projects analyze how Japanese cinema reflects political resistance and how cultural globalization transforms regional identities in Catalonia.

His publication trends reveal deepening focus on contemporary East Asian-Spanish connections, with increasing attention to methodological innovations in ethnographic research and digital anthropology. The 2020-2024 output demonstrates strategic engagement with urgent global issues like pandemic impacts on cultural exchange and evolving academic frameworks for Japanese studies.

Guarné leads significant research initiatives including the ongoing FEDER-funded project The Japanese and South-Korean Cultural Boom in Spain (2022-2025) and previously directed studies on Chinese migration patterns and East Asian cultural impacts in Spain. His collaborative network spans European and East Asian institutions, with particular strength in Spanish-Japanese academic partnerships.

As co-director of the East Asian Studies and Research Centre (CERAO) and the Gregal research group, he shapes institutional frameworks for studying Japan-Korea-Catalonia cultural circulation. These units facilitate interdisciplinary work connecting linguistic analysis, political dynamics, and sociocultural transformations across East Asia and the Mediterranean.