- Title: Japan’s answer to street artist Banksy takes aim at U.S. President Donald Trump
- Date: 28th January 2017
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (JANUARY 27, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF GRAFFITI ARTIST, 281 ANTINUKE, WALKING IN TOKYO VARIOUS OF 281 ANTINUKE PASTING ANTI-DONALD TRUMP STICKER ON A LIGHT POLE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) GRAFFITI ARTIST, 281 ANTINUKE, SAYING: "Japan lost the war against the U.S., and now I feel the boss of that country is saying white supremacist things, things that is much more than "America first," and racist." 281 ANTINUKE'S ANTI-NUCLEAR POWER STREET ART ON THE WALL (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) GRAFFITI ARTIST, 281 ANTINUKE, SAYING: "My art was produced out of the fear of what may happen to Japan because of such a horrifying leader (of the U.S.)." VARIOUS OF 281 ANTINUKE PASTING ANOTHER ANTI-DONALD TRUMP STICKER ON A LIGHT POLE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOKYO RESIDENT, MANATO KATO, SAYING: "My first impression (of the stickers) is that they're hard to understand, but once I get the context of it, it's very expressive as an art form. Nonetheless, my first impression was that it's hard to understand." PEOPLE WALKING ACROSS AN INTERSECTION VARIOUS OF ANTI-DONALD TRUMP STICKER ON A LIGHT POLE VARIOUS OF 281 ANTINUKE STANDING NEXT TO A LARGE ANTI-DONALD TRUMP STICKER (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOKYO RESIDENT, TSUBASA TOYOKAWA, SAYING: "It didn't really catch my attention, and I'm not sure what the message is. It doesn't have that much impact either." VARIOUS OF ANTI-DONALD TRUMP STICKER ON A LIGHT POLE NEAR AN INTERSECTION
- Embargoed: 11th February 2017 03:49
- Keywords: graffiti Japan streetart Donald Trump
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- City: TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Human Interest/Brights/Odd News,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA00160ZV5FR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A Japanese graffiti artist, known as 281 Antinuke, is taking aim at U.S. President Donald Trump through politically-charged street art pasted across downtown Tokyo.
Hiding behind sunglasses and a white surgical mask, 281 Antinuke declined to reveal his name or face to Reuters out of fear of retaliation by those who disagree with his political views. He has only confirmed that 281 is taken from the number on his high school jersey.
In Japan, graffiti is punishable by heavy penalties and frowned upon by society.
Amidst the bustling night life of Shibuya, one of Tokyo's major shopping and entertainment hubs, 281 Antinuke pastes stickers dealing with many different types of social issues, including a girl holding a sunflower made out of the radiation symbol. His artwork has mainly criticized nuclear power, inspired after the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami which caused a meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant.
Now, some of his most recent work appears to focus on U.S. President Donald Trump, who has in recent months been mired in media controversy over remarks particularly about women and minorities.
These stickers appear to show a figure resembling Trump standing between figures in white capes, which 281 Antinuke says symbolise members of the white supremacist group the Ku Klux Klan or KKK.
"Japan lost the war against the U.S., and now I feel the boss of that country is saying white supremacist things, things that is much more than "America first," and racist," 281 Antinuke told Reuters.
"My art was produced out of the fear of what may happen to Japan because of such a horrifying leader (of the U.S.)," he added.
In Japan, graffiti is punishable by heavy penalties and frowned upon by society.
The more political a sticker, the faster they're taken down, he says. His anti-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stickers are usually taken down or defaced within a few days.
However, he believes the new Trump stickers have flown over the heads of many locals. Pasted in and near a major intersection in Shibuya where thousands walk by every day, his anti-Trump stickers have remained untouched for a relatively long time.
"My first impression (of the stickers) is that they're hard to understand, but once I get the context of it, it's very expressive as an art form. Nonetheless, my first impression was that it's hard to understand," Tokyo resident Manato Kato, who only noticed the sticker once Reuters pointed it out, said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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