This Week in Tokyo – 21 August 2018

The latest edition of This Week in Tokyo – a review of the Maction Planet week that was and a look ahead to what’s coming up in and beyond the city. Check out photos from our tours and read insights into our explorations as we get under the skin of the World’s Greatest Metropolis, hosted by Mac, Founder and Lead Guide of Maction Planet. This week: Fireworks Train, Hands across the ocean, Rebel Without a Cause, Pillar Art and the ‘How to Ride an Escalator’ Awards!    

Featured image – Fireworks Train: A  Saturday night commute is brightened by the signature fireworks display from the The 32nd Tsurumi River Summer Festival held on 18 August. Over 1,200 fireworks are fired off from the banks of the Tsurumi River. Our guests enjoyed the festival alongside a photography lesson from one of Tokyo’s most talented. Yayu Wang of Yayaland Studio.

Hands across the ocean: I was lucky to host incredible artists Clare Wasserman and her family for a day exploring the backstreets of Tokyo, contemporary art, street murals and some of the best food in the city. She posted the above image, which she called ‘Hands across the ocean’, on her Instagram Stories which I absolutely loved! Clare and her husband Jason were kind enough to write reviews of their time touring with Maction Planet, which you can read here and here. It was an honour to show them some unique parts of the city I love, and to here Clare’s perspective on the Tokyo art and design we interacted with. Check out her incredible art on her Instagram, and at her website.

Rebel Without A Cause: The Watari Museum of Contemporary Art is currently holding ‘Rebel Without a Cause – I love Art 14’. Originally scheduled to end on 20th July, the exhibition has been extend to 26 August by popular demand. The show features the work of Gilbert and George, Keith Haring, Yoko Ono, Nam Jun Paik and many more. The photo is from the comprehensive section on the cross-disciplinary genius Buckminster Fuller.

Pillar Art: There was almost no English-language information about the ‘Shiodome Street Festival 2018 Summer’ which took place around Shiodome and Shinbashi last week. Of course, helping guests experience these unique events is a Maction Planet speciality. There was lots of enjoy there for visitors of all ages, but my guests and I were especially taken in by the Pillar Art competition. Here is our favourite entry – ‘Yamayama to Toushi no Yuugou’ (Fusion of Mountains and City) by Maruyama Miku and Nagara Mizuki from Tokyo Zokei University (東京造形大学). You can follow there amazing upcoming artists on social media – Maruyama Miku on Twitter and Nagara Mizuki on Twitter and Instagram.

And finally… the ‘How to Ride an Escalator’ Awards!: Yes, they apparently exist (according to this poster) and you could be up for nomination… IF you have abided by the golden rules – hold onto your luggage firmly, stand within the yellow lines and hold onto the handrail. The poster is unclear on when the awards ceremony is though. Keep the next few months free, just in case!

Maction Planet runs bespoke Tokyo Private Tours and Experiences. To book yours, contact us on info@mactionplanet.com