Tokyo’s Pedestrian Crossings Brightened by Umbrellas

In the series 'Rain' (2014-2015), photographer Yoshinori Mizutani shines the spotlight on a symbol of modern Japan.

11.05.2021

WordsHenri Robert

“Rain”, Yoshinori Mizutani

Diagonal pedestrian crossings are an iconic symbol of Japan but are not always cited as a cultural specificity, despite the fact that they are indeed a Japanese invention. In 2009, on the occasion of its inauguration, the new Oxford Circus crossing in London was described as a ‘Japanese-style’ crossing. Shibuya, in Tokyo, is home to the most used crossing in the world, traversed by over 2 million people every day. In his series Rain (2014-2015), Japanese photographer Yoshinori Mizutani, born in 1987, captures his city with a spotlight on these meeting points in the rain.

 

Intersecting viewpoints

In his images, the photographer presents pedestrian crossings from an elevated viewpoint, creating a striking, highly graphic, visual aesthetic. Yoshinori Mizutani eliminates the presence of a gloomy grey sky and replaces it with a host of umbrellas with various motifs. In one image, only the white stripes of the pedestrian crossing reflect the light from the city, with the contrast accentuated by the humidity.

I always thought of rain as something gloomy and unpleasant. One day, however, I stepped out into the city and realised how rain can alter our everyday landscape. Even the most mundane details such as wet ground and rain drops can reveal a whole new world to us if we observe them from a slightly different angle’, Yoshinori Mizutani explained in 2016 when the series was exhibited at the Webber Gallery in London. The artist viewed this series as an attempt ‘to present a new perspective and interpretation towards our often overlooked daily phenomenon.’

Prior to this, the artist made himself known with the series Tokyo Parrots (2013), presenting the wild, neon-coloured parakeets found in the city. This led to a collaboration with the brand Issey Miyake in 2016 and the series was featured at the Bienne Festival of Photography in Switzerland.

 

Rain (2014-2015), a series of photographs by Yoshinori Mizutani, can be viewed on his website.

'Rain', Yoshinori Mizutani

'Rain', Yoshinori Mizutani

'Rain', Yoshinori Mizutani

'Rain', Yoshinori Mizutani