●CERAMIC RELIEF● PROCESSION SPIN

The latest public artwork from Katsuhiro Otomo PROCESSION SPIN was unveiled today. Installed in the 1st basement floor passage at Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line in Ginza Station; the 7 meters wide and 2.4 meters high ceramic relief, made up of 164 individual ceramic tiles, 4 bronzes and 290 glazes was planned by the JPTCA (Japan Traffic Culture Association) and produced over approximately two years by seven artisans at CREARE Atami-Yugawara Studio based on the original drawings that Otomo spent about three years creating. Otomo supervised the whole project and he personally colored the sticker on kaneda's motorcycle located in the lower left.

Press release from JPTCA in Japanese: https://jptca.org/news/20251215-18868/

Press release from JPTCA in English: https://jptca.org/en/news/2025/11723/

Official website Japanese: https://jptca.org/publicart563/

Official website English: https://jptca.org/en/publicart563/

Otomo's message on the plate

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I've shaped the flow of art-from the Jomon period to the present and beyond-into a single form. The thoughts and prayers people wished to express by era are passing down while changing form. From that sequence, I'm lining up the fragments that have drawn me in and remain in my heart. Many hands have worked on, the colors emerge, it gradually rose up as a three-di-mensional form. From here on, the work belongs to the viewer.

When you happen to stop by, approach and retreat as you please, I would be happy if something resonates within you.

DETAILS

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Type: Ceramic relief

Size: 7 x 2.4 m

Design and Supervision: Katsuhiro Otomo (大友克洋)

Planners: Japan Traffic Culture Association and Cooperation:Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd.

Supporters: Seiko Group Corporation and Metro Cultural Foundation

production: CREARE Atami-Yugawara Studio (クレアーレ熱海ゆがわら工房)

NTV NEWS coverage

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Otomo's comments on the inauguration ceremony

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I’m not very good at speaking, but today, being here in such a wonderful place…we all created this work together. This piece took an incredible amount of time, and it’s probably the most difficult work I’ve ever made.

After all, because it’s public art, it’s not inside a museum, but out there in the city. I think this will probably become a work that everyone can physically interact with. Maybe people will stick 100-yen or 10-yen coins into little gaps somewhere in it…And maybe I’ll come collect them at the end of the year.

But really, if people enjoy it, that alone makes us very happy. So everyone, please, show some love to the artwork.

Thank you very much.

●CERAMIC RELIEF● ELEMENTS OF FUTURE

The large mural titled "ELEMENTS OF FUTURE" designed upon an illustration by Katsuhiro Otomo was unveiled today at the Ookayama Campus of Tokyo Institute of Technology (東京工業大学 大岡山キャンパス). Otomo also supervised the construction and assembly of the work conformed of 499 pieces of ceramic.

Official website Japanese: https://jptca.org/publicart546

Official website English: https://jptca.org/en/publicart546

Press release from JPTCA in Japanese: https://jptca.org/news/20201118-15913/

Opening ceremony press release from JPTCA: https://jptca.org/news/20201221-15975/

DETAILS

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Type: Ceramic relief

Size: 5x5 m

Planners: Japan Traffic Culture Association 

Production: CREARE Atami-Yugawara Studio

NEWS COVERAGE

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●CERAMIC RELIEF● Sendai Airport "Kinka Doji Riding the Waves Accompanied by Fujin and Raijin"

The unveiling ceremony of the ceramic relief designed by Katsuhiro Otomo, “Kinka Doji Riding the Waves Accompanied by Fujin and Raijin” (キンカドウジフウジンライジンヲシタガエテハトウヲコユルノズ） installed in the Sendai Airport took place today. A special website in Japanese, English and French was launched where the work is described:

Katsuhiro Otomo, the world-renowned manga artist whose works include the seminal AKIRA, was born in Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture. This relief, which was designed by Otomo, depicts Kinka Doji astride a mechanized goldfish, flanked by Fujin and Raijin—the gods of wind and lightning—rising above the billows and beckoning the auspicious clouds. The artwork represents our children—on whom the future rests—armed with twin pillars of knowledge and understanding, opposing the mighty powers of nature and moving bravely forwards in the face of intense difficulties. It is hoped that Kinka Doji will come to be cherished as a guardian deity of the region.

Official website: http://www.sendai-kinkadoji.com

Press release from JPTCA in Japanese: https://jptca.org/news/20150313-5003/

Press release from JPTCA in English: https://jptca.org/en/news/2015/1752/

Official JPTCA website Japanese: https://jptca.org/publicart508/

Official JPTCA website English: https://jptca.org/en/publicart508/

RELIEF DETAILS

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Dimensions: 8.7m x 2.8m (approx.)
Design and Supervision: Katsuhiro Otomo (大友克洋)

Planners: Japan Traffic Culture Association
Production: CREARE Atami-Yugawara Studio (クレアーレ熱海ゆがわら工房)

NEWS COVERAGE

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Otomo's comments on the inauguration ceremony

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I made this hoping that lots of different people would be able to enjoy it. Of course, there are many thoughts and feelings connected to the various disasters and earthquakes… but more than that, I wanted this to be something that, many years from now, when children come here and look at it, they’ll ask, ‘What exactly is this?’ And then people can tell them, ‘Something like this happened,’ and continue passing those stories down. That’s the kind of feeling I had when making it. So it’s not really something focused on tragedy or misery. Rather, I made it so people could enjoy it. And now, seeing it myself like this, I honestly think, ‘Wow, this is amazing.’”

There wasn’t really a specific model for it. Someone just said earlier, ‘Since the teacher wears glasses, isn’t it supposed to be you?’ But no, it’s not. I drew it more as a kind of ordinary, generic child.