TOKYO
CHAPTER 1
GRAFFITI IN THE METROPOLIS OF TOKYO — Hats off to the grease pens, the paint pens, the markers, and the tip collectors for cans — if you have to ask.... The law is heavy here, so the multi-colored "magnet laden tip collector pieces" made with many late night covert magnet laden bottom spray cans hidden in baggy pant pockets is just not a big thing in Tokyo.
That being said, the what is called one color chicken scratch or scribble has now become a work of art on its own here in Tokyo. This more conservative style evolved out of the constraints of money, time, and the ever present long arm of the law. Therefore, this art form is about the most artistic use of hand dexterity in the least amount of get the hell out of here time credits — not your general quick and easy chicken scratch or scribble territory ganster-type shit.
These many street artists entertain me, teach me, inspire me, and help me to escape to a somewhat smaller & often ignored fifth dimension of the city's reality.
(∩｀-´)⊃━☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ
MACHIDA
STORY : She was on easy print home sticker paper, pealed off and placed on a light pole. I have also seen her on vending machines and power transformers. The original creator has been busy distributing them around the town in the dark areas of the city.
Places you would not otherwise look. Which is interesting becuase she is a looker, as you can tell. I added a bit of hair, but other than that and the duplication and brand framing, it is the original artist's work recreated.
MACHIDA
STORY : This fine piece of scribble gana kana was found in one of the dirtiest alleys Machida has. Some dives that actually produce some of the best cuisine and atmoshere. However, it has a Kawloon City vibe, smell, and scenery to accompany its flair for excelent chefs with a flair for cheap rent and succulent dishes and potent potions.
The outdoor restroom is to die for. Quite literally, if you found a dead body or zombie dead body, you would not be surprized. This area of Machida is known as little Golden Gai, which is an identical area in Shinjuku with the same small bar, city code ignorent, but great get loose people who love a bit of anonymity. Love this place and Golden Gai.
MACHIDA
STORY : This... is not even grafitti. It's city worker unintentional art. On the streets of Machida where they have not repainted the kanji/gana of the communicated meaning in white on the street, it becomes left to the treacherous tear of nature resulting in what I see right as God's Grafitti.
"Let it be, let it be. These simple words of wisdom, let it be." Inspiration is everywhere, just go out and touch grass once in a while. A wise and nice designer once educated me on this concept, and it works.
MACHIDA
STORY : This is another back alley scribble, but with a heavy stroke on my brush on my drawing tablet. The original artist's version was much more slender, but I saw potential for this. I played with it for a bit, and digitally painted this out.
As far as the meaning, like all, or most of the Japanese grafitti I photograph, I usually have no idea what this is or means. I can read hiragana, katakana, as well as some kanji, but most of these works eludes even the most astute Japanese linguists. It is quite literally art.
MACHIDA
STORY : A big phatty. Veluptuous and full of heart...s . The artist may have communicated some meaning in the overrall, but deffinitly in the sign. Also, the kanji character, potentially fire, is understood. The number I changed to my fave for personal reasons.
The reason I liked this one was because big and bulky type is a go-to for me. You can see it from far away, and it has a footprint like Bigfoot... Big and impactful. A presence you cannot erase. Good luck battling permanence. Let me know how that works out for you.