Japan is home to a rather interesting form of street culture. The shrines and statues that hail from the unique brand of Shinto-Buddhism mix that comprises much of Japan's religious demographics.
shrine in Odaiba
Ojizo statues
tanooki shrine
Ojizo-sama statues can be found all over, often on the side of the road. You might already be familiar with the image of a small statue with a red bib. New and old statues alike are found all around. There is a short street near Asakusa that has 12 rather new raccoon dog’s statues on it. Comparing both the cuteness of the baby-like face of Ojizo-sama and the style of the raccoon dog’s statue, the baby-like face is a friendly reminder of its role as a protector of children. Many statues also sport knit outfits in a sort of guerilla fashion endeavour for the inanimate denizens of the streets.
bird statues in some finery
Beyond the religious and benign, a more familiar form of street art takes root in Japan. Beauty or blight, the streets of Japan are home to a wide range of graffiti.
Shibuya
Shibuya is to many, the foremost exporter of youth culture. The streets are home to one of the busiest intersections in the world and thousands of brightly lit shops selling the latest in fashion trends beneath the bright lights. However, it doesn’t take long to find streets covered in graffiti. With ample warning that vandalism is a crime and that violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, no surface is safe. Bridges are covered in stickers and the sides of buildings are covered in spray paint up to nauseating heights. In many cases the graffiti is more or less left alone, what would be a blight on storefronts elsewhere is just a part of business for many shops in Shibuya’s warrens.
HAVE YOUR COURAGE, i guess...
The style of the works present are less political in nature than much graffiti seen elsewhere. Much of the art is in english, with only a scant few in Kanji or Kana. Stencil work is uncommon and larger pieces are mostly commissioned works. Many shops have incorporated the graffiti or graffiti aesthetic into their building’s aesthetic or facade.
impromptu art installation
Sitting in the chill summer breeze with surrounded by the mechanical, it's easy to feel enmeshed in the megalopolis. Walking down the narrow streets I’m met with the strange sight of a broken down bike wedged in a small crate surrounded by flowers. It’s hard not to believe that was intentional. As I followed the path to Ebisu I came across a rather unique piece hiding under a pedestrian bridge.
The crush of the city is ever present as artists seek to leave their mark on this moving target.
Images from our trip
trendy storefront
an interesting dynamic
not for the acrophobic
very much my style
the spectre of megacorp in the background
no surface attracts graffiti faster than a sign prohibiting graffiti
