Daikanyama Street Art

Saturday morning on a random mostly-residential street under Kyu-Yamate Dori (旧山手通り), I ran past this street art. It really caught my attention and I had to go back and get a better photo. Not sure who the artist was. Probably should have looked a little closer for a signature.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 26 mm, f8, ISO 100, 1/20 sec.

281_Anti nuke spotted in Harajuku

During the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Harajuku this year, I spotted another new piece of protest street art from 281_Anti nuke along Omotesando in Harajuku. In light of the recent news of the drone landing on the Prime Minister's office, this protest art is even more important. Hopefully, it does more to raise awareness, spark dialog and constructive discussion of a important issues.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 200 mm, f4.0, ISO 100, 1/320 sec.

Invader in Azabu-Juban

In Azabu Juban I spotted this Invader mural across the street on a concrete retaining wall in Roppongi. It looks like it may be missing a tile, but I am not sure. My children have been delighted when they spot a new one in the city.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f5.6, ISO 100, 1/500 sec.

Invader in Harajuku

Just down the street from my favorite gyoza place in Harajuku, Gyoza Lou's, near Starbucks is another piece from the Invader.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 400, 1/160 sec.

New Street Art from 281_Anti nuke

In January, I spotted new street art from 281_Anti nuke near the Hachiko Statue and Shibuya Crossing.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f2.8, ISO 100, 1/1600 sec.

Even more from the Invader!

Here are two more of the street artist known as the Invader. The first was taken the same day that time I took photos of his Atom Boy piece in Shibuya and the second one was taken on Thanksgiving Day near Nishi-Azabu crossing.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f5.6, ISO 100, 1/400 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f5.6, ISO 100, 1/50 sec.

More Invaders in Shibuya!

I was walking around north of Shibuya Station on a beautiful Saturday morning waiting for my son to finish his Aikido lesson, and came across more work from the street artist known as the Invader. This wasn't the first time I had see this particular work, but it was the first time I had my Nikon with me.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f8.0, ISO 100, 1/30 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f4.5, ISO 100, 1/250 sec.

Street Art and a Strange Sign

I was wandering between Shibuya and Meijijingumae Station along Meiji Dori and found this unusual skull stuck on a pedestrian overpass. The overpass was covered mostly with graffiti but this little guy was the most interesting thing. I don't know if whether this is graffiti, a 3-D sticker, or something else, but it definitely is a form of street art or sculpture.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f4.0, ISO 200, 1/250 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f4.0, ISO 200, 1/250 sec.

I also wandered by this store with an unusual name, 'Guerilla The Incubation Period'. It's the flagship store of the Tokyo fashion brand, WTAPS, but the name seems out of place just like a skull stuck on an overpass. Anyway, the WTAPS website says that their concept is "placing things where they should be." Hmmm... I liked the design of the exterior of the shop, but couldn't see their merchandise. So perhaps their clothes did not belong on me?

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f4.0, ISO 200, 1/15 sec.

Street Art in Shibuya

In August on my walk through Shibuya, I spotted some street art from 281_Anti nuke. These pieces seem to pop out of the graffiti, posters and stickers in busier parts of the city. The big difference is the subtle political message and frustration regarding the current state of apathy regarding the Fukushima disaster and politics in Japan. It's very Bansky-eske and difficult for me to ignore. I hope that this art can lead to open and constructive dialog between artists, political activists, environmentalists and ordinary people. There are some great articles on this art in the New Yorker and the Japan Times.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 100, 1/50 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 100, 1/50 sec.

Shadow art / graffiti

When I lived in South Florida, there used to be an graffiti artist that painted or filled in the shadows of ordinary objects.  At first glance, you would see parking meters, bicycles and other everyday objects casting shadows at the wrong time of day.  Then you would realize that the shadow was painted in.  Sometimes, if the shadow was of a bike or other temporal / transient object, it would be long gone leaving only the shadow art as a memory.

Anyway, I walk by this veterinarian's office in Azabu Juban regularly.  Every time I walk by it brings back fond memories of Miami Beach...