A book about Street Art in Tokyo
Discover Tokyo Graffiti, a photography book documenting street art, graffiti, and urban culture across Tokyo. A visual archive by Lord K2.
Tokyo Graffiti is a visual exploration of one of the most overlooked street art scenes in Tokyo.
Despite strict anti-vandalism laws and a culture that prioritises order, graffiti and street art in Tokyo do exist — just not in the way you might expect. Hidden in backstreets, layered across shutter doors, or appearing overnight before quietly disappearing, Tokyo’s graffiti scene operates with subtlety and precision.
Photographed over several years, primarily during what can now be seen as a golden era of street art in Tokyo, which peaked around 2017, this body of work documents a side of the city that often goes unnoticed. Much of the work captured in these images has since been erased, and the scene itself has largely faded — making this collection a rare record of Tokyo graffiti at its peak.
From raw tags and stickers to intricate murals, the images capture a constantly shifting visual language shaped by both local artists and international influences.
Rather than focusing on scale or spectacle, Tokyo Graffiti looks at the details — the marks left behind, the textures of the city, and the tension between control and expression.
The book also includes written commentary and a historical overview of graffiti in Tokyo by Little Pink Pills (Mika Revell), placing the work within a broader cultural and global context.
This book offers a rare insight into street art in Tokyo and the evolution of its underground graffiti culture.
Published by Schiffer Publishing - Available at Amazon and through bookstores and retailers worldwide.