Tokyo Weekender August 2016

WHY DOES TOKYO NEED A
MOVEMENT LIKE THIS?
Tokyo has always been “cool” and a desirable place to
visit, I suppose, but up until recently it has carried this
unwarranted Bubble-Era reputation of being an expensive,
inaccessible island. In reality it is quite a bargain
compared to other alpha cities such as NYC and London.
I think people are now catching on to this, and as a result
we are seeing a huge influx of tourists. Most attempts
to capitalize on this have been financially or politically
motivated – they have focused on the novelty or kooky
stereotypes. We felt that Tokyo wasn’t being adequately
represented through conventional channels. Tokyo is this
monstrous iceberg under the surface, but what’s sold to
people is just a little ice cube pointing out the ocean. We
wanted to communicate this side of the city to people in
an authentic way. The Tokyo we know and love.
DESCRIBE THE TOKYO YOU
KNOW AND LOVE.
It’s inexplicably magnetic. Its depth and mystery allows
the curious mind a lifetime of exploration; around every
turn reveals one of the city’s many secrets. This is all a
result of its urban diversity. There’s no other place where
you can travel between neighborhoods on a short train
ride and feel like you’re in a different city. At the same
time it’s very flat: If you take someone from Kitasenju
and Nakameguro … economically they’re quite separate
but if you put them side by side and interact with them,
you’ll find that they’re quite similar, in manner and
values. I think this is something unique to Japan’s class
system, or lack thereof.
HOW DO YOU SEE THE CITY
EVOLVING RIGHT NOW?
The demographics are changing. The stigma of foreigners
just visiting or not taking life seriously here is being lifted.
We are garnering a bit more respect as contributors
to society and the cultural landscape; we’re becoming an
integral part of it, as opposed to this feeling of “When are
you going home?” You can see this with how we are now
collaborating more intimately as peers on an equal level.
SO WHAT IS TOKYO’S IDENTITY?
Nobody can really answer that. What is a Tokyojin?
Nobody has a clear answer, and I think that’s the beauty.
When you think of a New Yorker or a Parisian, you have
this clear image in your head. But Tokyojin? People are,
like, hmm, overworked salaryman, chic Sunday shopper?
However, I do believe that the cornerstone of Tokyo’s
identity is its constant evolution and renewal. I’m always
reminded of a quote from the late Donald Richie: “Worrying
about change in Tokyo is a fool’s errand, you might as
well complain about the weather.”
BUT FOR POWERED BY TOKYO YOU’VE
CHOSEN TO FOCUS ON PEOPLE…
Yes, because it’s the people – the entrepreneurs, the
creatives, the chefs, the bartenders, our cultural delegates
– who are shaping this city’s identity and future. We want
to create a platform to give these individuals a voice.
Then, collectively, we can establish an authentic image of
the real Tokyo.
Turn the page to meet Cherry, one of the first Tokyojin creatives
featured in the project. See more at poweredby.tokyo
TOKYO WEEKENDER | AUGUST 2016 | 33