A sweeping ceramic work by the Akira creator traces craftsmanship across time inside one of Tokyo’s busiest transit hubs.
A New Public Work in Ginza
Tokyo’s Ginza Station has become home to a major new artwork by Katsuhiro Otomo. Titled Procession Spin, the large scale ceramic relief was unveiled last month and now stands as a permanent public installation. Created over the course of two years, the piece translates one of Otomo’s original illustrations into a richly textured work that spans seven meters wide and two point four meters high.
Craftsmanship Across Eras
Procession Spin is composed of one hundred sixty four ceramic tiles, four bronze elements, and nearly three hundred glazes. Otomo worked closely with seven craftsmen from CREARE Atami Yugawara Studio to bring the project to life. Reading from right to left, the artwork moves through time, beginning with imagery inspired by the Jomon era rendered in rugged earthen textures. At the center, an eleven headed Kannon figure represents the present, finished with gold leaf to convey spiritual gravity. The left side gestures toward the future through metallic surfaces and industrial forms that echo Otomo’s science fiction worlds.
A Personal and Open Ended Gesture
For longtime fans, the work includes a subtle yet unmistakable reference to Akira, with a red clad biker appearing in the lower left corner, personally colored by Otomo himself. The artist has described the piece as an offering to viewers, encouraging them to approach it freely and take away their own impressions. Procession Spin is now permanently on view near Exit B1 at Ginza Station, adding a moment of reflection and artistry to the rhythm of everyday movement.
