This is a fantastic encapsulation of Japan – can you imagine any other society where a security guard goes to this effort?
When friends ask why I have been to Japan so many times, I always recount a story of being in Hiroshima wanting to get tickets to watch the football team play a game. This was over a decade ago so the process involved using one of those crazy complicated copier machines in a 7-11 and all I had to guide me was some Japanese language instructions on my iPad.
After spending 10 mins stuck, one of the staff came over and stood with me for 20 mins to help me sort it – they spoke no English, I spoke I Japanese and didn’t have any sort of translator. In v few other countries would an entry level role spend so much of their time trying to help a customer.
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I knew who this was just from the thumbnail. His ducttape work is legitimate art in my view. Cool that he gets this opportunity!
An uplifting story of everyone can be an artist.
love this thank you for sharing
First heard of him ages ago, when I encountered his work at Nippori. Here’s a sample from that time (from someone else):
https://pinktentacle.com/2007/09/shuetsu-sato-tape-signs-at-nippori-station/
This is a fantastic encapsulation of Japan – can you imagine any other society where a security guard goes to this effort?
When friends ask why I have been to Japan so many times, I always recount a story of being in Hiroshima wanting to get tickets to watch the football team play a game. This was over a decade ago so the process involved using one of those crazy complicated copier machines in a 7-11 and all I had to guide me was some Japanese language instructions on my iPad.
After spending 10 mins stuck, one of the staff came over and stood with me for 20 mins to help me sort it – they spoke no English, I spoke I Japanese and didn’t have any sort of translator. In v few other countries would an entry level role spend so much of their time trying to help a customer.
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