Tokyo is a city full of contrast and surprise. If you are standing in front of the German Embassy, you’ll be able to see vibrant art painted all over its walls!
Just like other developed cities, Tokyo has art galleries where some art pieces require entry-fee to view them, while others can be seen everywhere on the streets made by independent artists with lots of support from the community.
Whenever I want to get away from the busyness of life, I go to a quieter place in town and look for a cafe. They sell T-shirts that were designed by the cafe’s neighbor. Every month, I like attending a creative event at an urban workspace. It has different kinds of people there like graphic designers, chefs, livestreamers, or even someone who takes pictures of abandoned buildings.
The art in Tokyo is always changing and passing by quickly, like the beat of the city. Murals, artists, and zines will come and go without warning. But it’s amazing how fast ideas move around here and that can help create some really special moments.
Table of Contents
Exploring Japan
Doing something new can be intimidating and exciting at the same time. Taking on a challenge or trying out for something new can make us feel both scared and excited. It’s okay to feel these feelings since the uncertainty of stepping into the unknown is natural. Nobody ever truly knows what they’re getting themselves into until they take the plunge and try it out. Making mistakes along the way is normal too but that doesn’t mean you should give up, just keep going!
If you’re visiting Japan, you don’t need to be too worried about not being able to speak the language. English is widely spoken in Tokyo, so it won’t be difficult for you to get by. It’s still helpful to know a few Japanese words and phrases though, especially when joining any kind of event or community gathering. What really matters there is not how well you can communicate with people but rather your attitude and friendliness – showing that you are open-minded, curious and kind will help a lot. If an artist is present at the event, try to look them up before going there; that way, you’ll have something interesting to talk about with other guests who came for the same artist! Even without speaking much, expressing yourself with body language and enthusiasm works just as well!
Most independent artists like when people take pictures and share their artwork. But there might be some exceptions, where it will be prohibited. So make sure to watch out for signs that say “No photos” near the art or if someone in charge asks you not to take pictures, just apologize and follow their instructions. An example of somewhere street art is abundant is Takeshita Street in Harajukku!
Celebrating Art, Creativity and People
Everyone has certain qualities that make them unique and special, and these can be seen through their strengths, weaknesses and interests. Your strengths are things that you do well; they may be related to your talents, athletic ability or intelligence. On the other hand, your weaknesses are not as strong or developed; they are areas where you need help with. Lastly, your interests show what you like to do in spare time. Through the combination of your strengths, weaknesses and interests, you can create a plan for yourself to grow and get closer to achieving success.
Recently, I’ve been getting more involved in the IRL-scene. One of the events that has consistently been enjoyable is Artedly’s monthly meetups in Tokyo. They bring together amazing independent photographers and digital artists with cafes and community spaces around the city. All types of art can be seen. For example, at one event, we were entranced by a pixel art piece based on Vincent Van Gogh’s “Starry Night”, created by Codestar Creates. At another meetup, I got my hands on a really cool sticker from Breathing Tokyo featuring Hokusai’s “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” reimagined in a ’90s Windows OS style! And all this while munching on some homemade banana bread provided by JoshinJapan. All in all, these gatherings are about celebrating not just art but also the people who make it happen.
Chasing Dreams
Thirteen-year-olds can easily understand the key information in this passage. It explains that if we want to reach our goals, we have to remain focused and steadfast with continued effort and dedication. Setbacks are inevitable and they shouldn’t stop us from striving forward towards our dreams. We must learn from them and use them as building blocks for our journey. With determination, hard work, and resilience, anything is possible.
I first saw Design Festa while walking down the street. It felt like I was Alice chasing the White Rabbit, so I had to check it out – and wow! Design Festa comes in two parts – east and west blocks – with a bunch of rooms that people can rent for their artwork or art exhibitions. When I visited, all the art was about rabbits, like rabbit portraits and bags shaped like bunnies. Everything was really cool and creative!
Discovering Kairyou-yu
The other night I was out shopping for food and had to take a different way home. As I walked, I saw something really cool – a huge mural of a three-story whale in the process of rising up from the ocean. It was part of Kairyou-yu, an ancient bathhouse mostly visited by elder people. The streets were not very well lit but even in the dim light, it was so impressive!
When I walk around the city, I often come across street art that captures my attention. On one instance, on the walls of Toho Gakuen lies a piece of artwork called “Keeenue’s Inspiration” created by famous pixel artist Invader. The ideas behind this artwork were thought up by students and teachers from the same institution. It can be really fun to find these works yourself!
The best spot to find street art is probably in Harajuku, where you’ll stumble upon cool stores filled with clothes and food spots like pancake cafes. Make sure to look all around when walking down Takeshita Street – you won’t want to miss any details!
The Art Walk Essentials
When you go out for an art walk, be sure to wear shoes that are comfortable and suitable for the weather. If you buy an umbrella, don’t forget to hold on it tightly, because if you leave it outside a convenience store anybody can take it away.
Don’t Forget Your Cash! Exploring Tokyo with 1000 Yen Notes for Souvenirs and Artwork
Tokyo is a bit different from other big cities because it tends to still use cash instead of credit cards. It’s a smart idea to bring plenty of 1000 yen notes with you so that you can pay for the things while traveling in Tokyo. These expenses won’t be huge but include some small costs like buying souvenirs and drinks.
If you go explore Shibuya Station, you’ll find some really cool artwork such as Taro Okamoto’s murals.
Get Organized and Get Stuff Done
This passage is talking about how important it is to stay organized and on track when completing a task. It talks about setting achievable goals, breaking down tasks and managing your time wisely so that tasks can be completed efficiently and as close to the goal timeframe as possible. Overall, it’s saying that staying organized and having a plan are important for success in achieving any task.
Why not grab your friends when the sun goes down and search for some cool vibes? Tokyo Love Hotels in Sankeys Penthouse located in Shibuya is an awesome event that has DJs playing music, tarot card readers and Polaroid photographers. It’s a combination of club and art exhibition – sounds super fun! And if you want to move at a slower pace, you can head over to BnA Hotels in Nihonbashi, Koenji or Akihabara which all have ever-changing murals which would be great backgrounds for some ‘selfie-sessions’ with drinks. After midnight when the last train has gone, why not just stay up until morning?
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Exploring the Benefits and Ethics of Technology in the Industrial Revolution!
Ever since the industrial revolution, people have been using machines to speed up production and make more goods in less time. This has led to an increase in wealth around the world and created many opportunities for those living in industrialized countries. As a result of this rapid progress, certain ethical concerns have been raised regarding topics such as job displacement and pollution caused by these technologies. These issues are important to consider when we assess whether technology is really a positive force or not.
Social media makes it easy to stay connected with the places you visit even when you go home. Many activities and places have their own Instagram accounts that provide great information. TokyoDex, a company that works with Japanese artists, posts bilingual content about art on their feed too. Hellosandwich’s account has awesome pictures from Japan and its art scenes. Make sure to check all of these out so you can save them for your next trip! Tokyo is really special and always draws people back for more!
Unleash Your Power
The passage is about how we have the power to shape our own lives and create our own paths. We are responsible for making decisions that will determine the outcome of our lives, whether they be good or bad. We should strive to make choices that benefit us in the long run and take control over what we want in life. By recognizing our capabilities and believing in ourselves, we can achieve anything we put our minds to.
If you like a piece of art and want to own the original, talk to the artist! Artedly’s online store produces beautiful prints created by their partnered artists in Japan. What makes them special is that no two pieces are the same – each one is hand-numbered so they’re unique! Are you looking for something else to bring home? Try Bumpodo – it’s an old art supplies store in Japan where you can find cool things like postcards and retro figurines. SOU SOU Kyoto’s Aoyama branch carries handmade items such as tabi shoes, cool socks, and mini accessories. They mix art with function so you can have something both stylish AND useful!