Story-3
Art that connects nature and design, past and present

story3

Tokyo, where the latest culture and trends converge, and Yamagata, where Japan’s timeless natural beauty and cultural landscapes still thrive. When comparing these two places from a public art perspective, the distinction between present and past, urban and rural, comes clearly into view.

At the heart of Tokyo lies Shibuya. At its towering height, the SHIBUYA SKY observation deck stands as art that turns the city itself into a canvas. The flickering rhythm of the crossing below, the sense of openness woven by glass transparency and rushing wind—these form a modern aesthetic beauty born from architecture and the structure of the city. The flow of time through the city and the movements of people passing by can be felt as an art form all of its own.

In Yamagata, we see a breathtaking winter scene, known as the “Snow Monsters”. The frost-covered trees of Zao are massive, incidental works of art; a natural creation born from the perfect balance of wind direction, snow quality and quantity, and temperature. By day, shades of white carve the valleys, and by night, illuminated shadows reverse and rise, creating a dreamlike contrast of silhouettes. Simply walking among them allows one to fully experience such spatial art.
In Tokyo, among towering skyscrapers, people encounter art in brief moments, and there, they receive its message. In Yamagata, surrounded by vast nature, art resonates with the landscape and sounds, as if blending into them. With Tokyo and Yamagata featuring such contrasting stages, we may discover the universality and diversity of beauty itself.

Tokyo

① SHIBUYA SKY（Shibuya City）

Public art in motion, shaped by the passage of time

SHIBUYA SKY

SHIBUYA SKY stretches from the 14th and 45th floors up to the rooftop of Shibuya Scramble Square, a large complex built directly above Shibuya Station. With glass railings and an open sky forming its frame, the Tokyo skyline becomes a massive work of spatial art.

SHIBUYA SKY
SHIBUYA SKY

By day, visitors may take in everything from the towers of the city to the peaks of distant mountains, while shifting light and moving clouds create ever-changing expressions across the cityscape. During the brief “magic hour” after sunset, the sky and city melt into a single gradient. And once night falls, the scramble crossing below turns into a giant moving mosaic. This constant “passage of time” is the true performance, letting every visit feel like a completely new work of art.

② Myth of Tomorrow, Shibuya Mark City (Shibuya City)

A moment to stop, and carve out a message of life

Myth of Tomorrow, Shibuya Mark City

Source: Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum

Myth of Tomorrow, created by Okamoto Taro and displayed in the concourse of Shibuya Mark City, is a massive mural measuring 5.5m tall and 30m wide, overwhelming viewers with its sheer scale. The explosive contrasts of vivid red, yellow, and black, depict a moment of devastating tragedy, yet the work carries Okamoto’s powerful message that humanity can overcome it and boldly create a “myth of tomorrow.” Often described as the companion piece to Tower of the Sun, it is considered one of his greatest masterpieces.

③ Roots, Toranomon Hills (Minato City)

Uniting cultures and languages, a wish for peace

Roots, Toranomon Hills

Jaume Plensa, Roots, 2014, Stainless steel and paint, W 5.5 x D 6.5 x H 10 m

Roots, a large sculptural work by Jaume Plensa, depicts a seated figure gripping its knees, formed entirely from stainless-steel characters. These characters, from eight languages, are interwoven to express the ideas of global diversity and peaceful coexistence, as different cultures and ideas merge into a single form. Depending on where you stand and the time of day, the scenery and light that filter through the gaps between the letters shift, changing the work’s impression moment by moment.

④ Maman, Roppongi Hills (Minato City)

A symbol of creation and protection, projecting motherhood through the form of a spider

Maman, Roppongi Hills

Louise Bourgeois, Maman, 2002 (1999), Bronze, stainless steel and marble

Maman, a sculpture by Louise Bourgeois, is a towering spider nearly 10m tall, permanently installed at 66 Plaza in Roppongi Hills, Tokyo.
Bourgeois linked the idea of a “mother”—a symbol of creation and protection—to the likeness of a spider weaving its web and guarding its eggs from harm. By day, sharp shadows stretch across the ground, and by night, ominous silhouettes emerge under the lights. Its impression changes dramatically with the passing of time.

⑤ Fossil of the 20th Century Civilization, Kiyosumi Shirakawa Station (Koto City)

An underground space, where urban memories overlap with modern life

Fossil of the 20th Century Civilization, Kiyosumi Shirakawa Station

Source: Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation

Fossil of the 20th Century Civilization, created by Higuchi Shoichiro, covers the entire wall of the Toei Oedo Line platform at Kiyosumi Shirakawa Station. Metal, scrap materials, and machine parts are embedded as if fused with the concrete structure of the station, forming a massive relief-like installation.
By introducing traces of past eras and human activity into this artificial underground space, the work creates brief moments during everyday travel to reflect on the past and future of civilization.

  • Address

    1-6-13 Shirakawa, Koto City, Tokyo

Yamagata

⑥ Shikamura Tanada Hotarubi Concert (Okura Village)

A moving concert, amongst magical scenery

Shikamura Tanada Hotarubi Concert

In a summer evening in Okura in Yamagata, the Shikamura Tanada Hotarubi Concert quietly begins. Around 1,200 small hotarubi (artificial glow reminding fireflies) flicker softly across the terraced rice fields. The vast landscape becomes an open-air concert venue, where the sounds of summer insects blend with ocarina and piano, uniting scenery with music.

Shikamura Tanada Hotarubi Concert
Shikamura Tanada Hotarubi Concert

Following the illuminated pathways, the audience experiences music alongside the shifting colors of nature, faint insect chirping, and the distant sounds of water. The exchange between nature and people, between music and landscape, leaves a deep and lasting impression.
* Held annually on the first Saturday in August

⑦ Hijiori no Hi (Okura Village)

A hands-on art experience, shaped by local residents and memories of the land

Hijiori no Hi

Hijiori Onsen is wrapped in a gentle glow during the Hijiori no Hi lantern event, in which colorful lanterns placed outside inns and shops sway softly, almost responding to the footsteps of those walking by.

Hijiori no Hi
Hijiori no Hi

The lanterns feature illustrated stories created by young artists connected to Yamagata, and call upon local nature and food culture to portray vivid scenes that live on in Hijiori.

Hijiori no Hi

Set within the onsen village, the lights blend naturally into everyday life, illuminating the streets in harmony with the community’s lifestyle and history.

⑧ Snow Monsters of Zao (Yamagata City & Kaminoyama City)

Art born from natural forces, beyond the hands of humanity

Snow Monsters of Zao

In winter, the Zao mountain range transforms as its trees become covered in ice, transforming them into the “Snow Monsters.” Frozen snow and ice, driven by fierce winds, coat every branch and trunk, forming an otherworldly collection of shapes that change dramatically between day and night.

Snow Monsters of Zao

At sunrise, the white surfaces blend softly into the sky, and at dusk, long shadows stretch across the mountainside, making for an astonishing sight. When lit up at night, the formations take on a metallic chill, glowing with a mysterious, ethereal presence.

Snow Monsters of Zao

No two shapes are ever the same. This is Yamagata’s winter, nature’s own artistic creation.