While Chinese graffiti artists have been reserved about infusing their work with local flavor, Japanese artists have built a street-art scene that is uniquely defined by their visual history.  There are elements of ukiyo-e, or woodblock prints of the late 19th-early 20th century, elements of modern day manga and cartoon characters, and a peculiar juxtaposition of imagery that is often found in other mediums, including Hayao Miyazaki‘s films.   Emphasis is placed on creating complete pieces with a narrative of sorts – perhaps this is a remnant of the woodblock culture, where a single image often captured or represented an entire tale. Works are often very large scale, credited in part to certain legal graffiti zones.

Graffiti Japan is a book compiled by Remo Camerota, a graffiti artist from Melbourne.  He started this project by contacting different street artists, who welcomed him with open arms and took him into their world. Remo ended up staying in various homes during his stay in Japan, learning not only about the visual culture of street art but also of the competition between various crews. The result is a stunning publication that showcases some of the best work from Japan.

Enjoy this preview into Graffiti Japan and the Japan section of the Street Art Beat.  There are some truly amazing artists to be showcased on 21CB!

(Previews of Graffiti Japan via The Tokyo Times.)

Check out the official website for Graffiti Japan here. You can also pick up a copy of the book on Amazon.com for $14.63 USD.

• "Dear Japan" Makes You Jealous You Don't Live There [Video]
• Child Sumo Wrestlers in the Early 20th Century