The title  "橋" in japanese, and "Ponte" in portuguese, are words that have the same meaning, “Bridge”: between the two countries,  between the two cultures, between generations. On the other hand, the ideogram (Kanji) representing "Bridge" (橋) is used in our family name "Itabashi" (板橋).

My father is japanese, and my mother is portuguese. After living in Japan for 13 years, they came to Portugal and have been living here for 25 years.

Despite of being portuguese, my mother speaks japanese fluently, and for as long as i can remember, she always liked Japanese culture such as traditional clothings and handicrafts. However, some habits remained: she rarely eats with chopsticks.

Unlike the japanese stereotype, my father lives a simple lifestyle. He works the land, growing his own vegetables. Even after 25 years, old habits remain: sleeps on the floor and eats with chopsticks.

This series of pictures documents my parents’ daily life, their home and routines. It portaits the union of the japanese and portuguese cultures, giving birth to a new culture made from commitment... My culture.