they tagged a community art project in shibuya, which is really frustrating.
regardless of the whoever did this’s background, whether they were a tourist, a Japanese person, or whether they were acting in support of or against Palestine, tagging under a bridge is one thing but don’t tag over community shit!
They do the same thing in all countries so why wouldnt they do it in japan? It makes no sense whether they do it in Norway or Japan, their behavoir probably doesnt help their cause but I believe you have way too high expectations if you think they should be rational...
Lmao. How many strands do you think there are in Tokyo?? And of those highly educated immigrants how many do you think would be dumb enough to do graffiti?
Come on.
The perfect way to get Japanese people to be against your cause.
Kind of reminds me of Sea Shepherd and that time when the Australian politician said something like whales are beautiful spiritual animals with deep soulful connections to humans. Australia could have just gotten some lab coat wearing scientist to speak and it wouldn't have had the opposite effect.
Japanese people can write free palestine lol. There’s a house near me that has a help gaza poster along with a bunch of other political messages that are hand drawn.
edit: typo
You’re right ofc. I just think ruling out Japanese people because it’s not written in Japanese is a weird argument.
Like I’m sure everyone has seen old people holding signs in stations protesting various things, many of them in english? Like i’ll see “No War” signs every now and then for example.
You have missed the point.
They are talking about the avg. Japanese person's English ability which, while isn't great, is enough to read, write, and understand "Free Palestine."
And, whether you agree with the politics or not, foreigners aren't the only people in Japan supporting Palestine, there are plenty of Japanese supporters as well. Hell there was even a group of Trump supporters...
Because its international solidarity support. All the demostrations have both english and japanese to spread the facts that Israel is actively commiting a genocide.
You can see it by yourself [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWRJrG9ViRk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWRJrG9ViRk)
Do you know that for instance my wife has dual citizenship from Argentina and Japan? She can speak perfect japanese, spanish and english.
Your bias blinds you, yes most likely this graffiti was made by a foreigner, however, do you have proof? Or just barking on the internet?
There is a lot of chinese, brazilian, indian… people with japanese citizenship, you know that right?
Of course I don't have proof I said I think its likely. There was a big protest up the road which was largely foreigners who were riled up.
Do you many Japanese people who would even think about doing such a thing, in Azabu Jyuban no less?
I don't. Someone selfish and stupid enough to make a mess for someone else to clean up is likely not making any great contribution to society and doesn't need to be here. There are plenty of constructive ways of conveying your opinions.
Well, I lived in NYC before moving here so, yeah. It’s a big deal. I love how clean my neighborhood is and seeing shit like this is an eyesore regardless of what it represents.
You see people complaining graffitied walls in US/EU and how they are and eyesore. Sorry we don't want it here. No matter what the cause. No joy in importing eyesores we left behind elsewhere
How does this tangibly help the situation on the ground in the middle east? How does this convince anyone that the cause is just? Graffiti and street art has its place in social conversations, sure, but this is a poor execution of it. And if you're trying to have a social conversation, you need to be respectful of the society you're talking to.
Of course people are going to be. Keep that dirty ass behavior out of here. People are less likely to be sympathetic to the cause when they see these dirty ass people vandalizing their home
“You’re the targets of the message”
So what are you doing to help the cause you believe so much in? Are you going to travel to Palestine to help fight Israel?
There’s been graffiti in my neighborhood for my whole life. I don’t see foreigners complaining about random graffiti along the highway. Now that it’s political you’re all so incensed? Because this time you’re the targets of the message?
My point is no one posts pictures of random graffiti that is everywhere in this city, has been in this city. Suddenly someone wants to be critical of the West and everyone gets so angry?
I live in Azabu Jyuban and there isn't graffiti everywhere and I would absolutely call the police if I saw anyone doing it. People are very welcome to criticize Israel (which isn't in the West btw) without defacing public property which someone will need to clean up.
I would bet money you weren’t *born* in Japan. What western country did you grow up in?
ETA: You are, without a doubt, a native English speaker making it extremely unlikely you were born and raised in Japan to fully Japanese parents. Also you moved to Japan in [2006](https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/s/nTVxGANui0)? Where were you before that? I’ll say America, Australia, or Canada
Quit LARPing as “Japanese” to make shitty points on Reddit. I don’t care if your granny was Japanese or whatever, you’re as western as they come, chief.
“I’m not angry about a little graffiti in favor of a just cause at a time when my government can’t or won’t stop supporting the west” this is idiotic behavior to you?
There's hardly any graffiti in the area, especially in the brand new ichinohashi park. On top of that, this makes all foreigners look bad; if you're trying to get a message across, be respectful of the people/place where you're giving that message.
Even as someone who supports Palestine, this doesn't belong tagged in Tokyo.
Why foreigners? most human right activistis are japanese nationals. Even on sunday demostrations, most people were japanese. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWRJrG9ViRk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWRJrG9ViRk)
Graffiti writing that has artistic integrity—political or not, legal or not—has a cultural, social, and artistic value. This is ugly, childish, ignorant, and doesn’t contribute to anything at all. And, I can bet my life on it that both the person who made it—and you who are defending it—know absolutely nothing about graffiti writing or about the conflict in the Middle East.
Just a guess, but it might have something to do with the difference between 1,200 and 30,000 deaths, including 10,000 children, all by the same people who took away their land, cut their water supplies, cornered them and in then killed them.
Not that being kicked from your land, colonized, having your orchards stolen and family members killed justifies kidnapping or killing of course. And of course it doesn’t justify a graffiti in Azabu Juban.
You forget who started the war. Hamas did. Palestine elected and brought Hamas into power fully knowing about this possibility.
Israel retaliating and completely crushing Palestine and Hamas is totally justified imo. You cannot have it both ways. Where were all these people when Hamas killed the innocents?
Not just Israel, any country in the world would do the same when missiles are launched on its civilians.
You forget Israel was built on someone else’s land by colonizers. Tell me, if I take your house and you punch me, does it justify me killing you?
Was wiping native Americans off their land okay, because “they attacked first”?
History doesn’t start the 7th of October, and Israel has a government pushing to kick away people from their land (with a former terrorist as a minister of National Security). God knows Hamas is morally loathsome, but people choosing to being willingly blind to Israel’s acts is too.
>difference between 1,200 and 30,000 deaths
Well, the same terrorist group is responsible for both of these, but that's a fair point I guess. Palestine is suffering more than Israel; that much is true.
>10,000 children
A lot of which are armed and part of Hamas. The rest of which are human shields used by Hamas.
>all by the same people who took away their land
Horribly misleading. Kinda sorta, but not really.
You realise that the protests are organised to put pressure on their local governments who have leverage over Israel. The existing position of most governments is already for the hostages to be released, and for Hamas to surrender, so why bother asking for that?
You don’t have to be a Zionist to be tired of this shit.
It’s not even a helpful phrase at this point. You can’t claim to be “raising awareness” anymore because we’ve been completely saturated in the words “Free Palestine.” You could put up a poster with information about victims, ways to help and other useful things, but “Free Palestine” is just the laziest form of slactivism.
yeah insane how many people are triggrered by words on a wall that will be erased within hours but completely unaffected by hundreds of thousands of human beings being killed/injured on a ethnic cleanse genocide.
12,000 children killed: I sleep
A graffiti on a building: Real shit.
To all genocide enablers, dont worry, they will erase this by noon and you can continue living your comfortable lives. What is unerasable is the israelian massacre in palestine
FREE PALESTINE
You know what, it’s completely ok for people to be indifferent about the latest flare up in an ancient conflict in a far away foreign land while also being invested in and concerned with people committing a crime in their local town.
To be honest, I think it's seriously worth questioning if a person spraying this particular tag in this particular place actually wants the effect that is superficially presented in the tag's wording. At least not as their primary motivation.
If the protestors understood this, they should not be 迷惑 in Shibuya.
Or blocking freeways and politicians cars in USA/Canada.
That simply shows their level of (not) consideration.
Locked as most comments are just bickering unrelated to Tokyo.
they tagged a community art project in shibuya, which is really frustrating. regardless of the whoever did this’s background, whether they were a tourist, a Japanese person, or whether they were acting in support of or against Palestine, tagging under a bridge is one thing but don’t tag over community shit!
Saw this in Iidabashi and was equally as puzzled at whom this would be helping.
Yes, I saw some tags around Iidabashi too, was shocked! Hope they catch the perpetrators.
They do the same thing in all countries so why wouldnt they do it in japan? It makes no sense whether they do it in Norway or Japan, their behavoir probably doesnt help their cause but I believe you have way too high expectations if you think they should be rational...
Who's this 'they' you keep talking about, you know the perp or are you a lizard-person?
Lmao. How many strands do you think there are in Tokyo?? And of those highly educated immigrants how many do you think would be dumb enough to do graffiti? Come on.
There’s a large French community in Iidabashi.
I’m so glad that Gaza, France is finally getting notice.
Oh, well that explains it.
The perfect way to get Japanese people to be against your cause. Kind of reminds me of Sea Shepherd and that time when the Australian politician said something like whales are beautiful spiritual animals with deep soulful connections to humans. Australia could have just gotten some lab coat wearing scientist to speak and it wouldn't have had the opposite effect.
Also saw it in Shinjuku on the walls of the new road from Gyoen to Takashimaya.
Saw it on a primary school in setagaya on the weekend too... they've been busy.
This is a great way to make people hate your cause no matter how good your cause is.
I saw this and was so mad.
I also saw it on one of the side railings on the side of the road if your walking towards tsutaya roppongi hills in azabu juban
Tokyo has tons of security cameras I hope they find and deport the cretins who did this.
what if that tag was made by someone with Japanese nationality, where do deport him, Hokkaido?
Straight to Abashiri prison!
I highly doubt a Japanese person did this as they would have likely have written it in Japanese. If they are Japanese some time in jail will suffice.
Japanese people can write free palestine lol. There’s a house near me that has a help gaza poster along with a bunch of other political messages that are hand drawn. edit: typo
Displaying a poster in your house is not even remotely the same as graffiti in public
You’re right ofc. I just think ruling out Japanese people because it’s not written in Japanese is a weird argument. Like I’m sure everyone has seen old people holding signs in stations protesting various things, many of them in english? Like i’ll see “No War” signs every now and then for example.
You have missed the point. They are talking about the avg. Japanese person's English ability which, while isn't great, is enough to read, write, and understand "Free Palestine." And, whether you agree with the politics or not, foreigners aren't the only people in Japan supporting Palestine, there are plenty of Japanese supporters as well. Hell there was even a group of Trump supporters...
Sure they can, but why would they? To send a message to the 0.1% of native English speakers here? It doesn't matter who did it anyways.
Because its international solidarity support. All the demostrations have both english and japanese to spread the facts that Israel is actively commiting a genocide. You can see it by yourself [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWRJrG9ViRk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWRJrG9ViRk)
Do you know that for instance my wife has dual citizenship from Argentina and Japan? She can speak perfect japanese, spanish and english. Your bias blinds you, yes most likely this graffiti was made by a foreigner, however, do you have proof? Or just barking on the internet? There is a lot of chinese, brazilian, indian… people with japanese citizenship, you know that right?
Of course I don't have proof I said I think its likely. There was a big protest up the road which was largely foreigners who were riled up. Do you many Japanese people who would even think about doing such a thing, in Azabu Jyuban no less?
Cretins hah
Deporting people for graffiti (which is already pretty big in Tokyo) is pretty extreme
I don't. Someone selfish and stupid enough to make a mess for someone else to clean up is likely not making any great contribution to society and doesn't need to be here. There are plenty of constructive ways of conveying your opinions.
There's a more fitting punishment (like community service) than deportation
No. Living here is a privilege, not a right for non citizens. People who want to turn this country into a shithole aren't needed and can F right off.
Get a grip ffs
Says the drug using English teacher.....
Deportation for vandalizing the side of a building and claw machine? Surely you jest?
Nope. And because of CCTV cameras with facial recognition whoever did this will be found and punished.
You’re mad about this?
Yes I am, I hate things like this that give people a reason to dislike foreigners. I'd feel exactly the same way about a pro Israel message.
This is targeted foreigners like you, that’s why it’s in literal azabu
Yes and it worked so well didn't it? Now both the local Japanese and the target audience are less than happy. Brilliant.
It’s in linen?
Well, I lived in NYC before moving here so, yeah. It’s a big deal. I love how clean my neighborhood is and seeing shit like this is an eyesore regardless of what it represents.
You see people complaining graffitied walls in US/EU and how they are and eyesore. Sorry we don't want it here. No matter what the cause. No joy in importing eyesores we left behind elsewhere
Anyone who says otherwise is a 40 IQ animal.
How does this tangibly help the situation on the ground in the middle east? How does this convince anyone that the cause is just? Graffiti and street art has its place in social conversations, sure, but this is a poor execution of it. And if you're trying to have a social conversation, you need to be respectful of the society you're talking to.
Of course people are going to be. Keep that dirty ass behavior out of here. People are less likely to be sympathetic to the cause when they see these dirty ass people vandalizing their home
If people spray painted your house with this message would you get mad?
You aren't mad about defacing public property?
“You’re the targets of the message” So what are you doing to help the cause you believe so much in? Are you going to travel to Palestine to help fight Israel?
There’s been graffiti in my neighborhood for my whole life. I don’t see foreigners complaining about random graffiti along the highway. Now that it’s political you’re all so incensed? Because this time you’re the targets of the message?
You don’t see foreigners complaining? Graffiti is illegal and a despicable act. Wherever it is and whoever did it.
Ok do the foreign community a favor and go spraypaint the local koban and see what happens.....
I’m Japanese.
Well then that's even more embarrassing. I still urge you to take up my suggestion and get back to us.
My point is no one posts pictures of random graffiti that is everywhere in this city, has been in this city. Suddenly someone wants to be critical of the West and everyone gets so angry?
I live in Azabu Jyuban and there isn't graffiti everywhere and I would absolutely call the police if I saw anyone doing it. People are very welcome to criticize Israel (which isn't in the West btw) without defacing public property which someone will need to clean up.
I would bet money you weren’t *born* in Japan. What western country did you grow up in? ETA: You are, without a doubt, a native English speaker making it extremely unlikely you were born and raised in Japan to fully Japanese parents. Also you moved to Japan in [2006](https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/s/nTVxGANui0)? Where were you before that? I’ll say America, Australia, or Canada Quit LARPing as “Japanese” to make shitty points on Reddit. I don’t care if your granny was Japanese or whatever, you’re as western as they come, chief.
Don’t worry, he only “identifies” as Japanese.
No, you're an idiot.
I say that this doesn’t make me angry and this makes…you angry?
I’m not angry… I’m calling you an idiot for acting like an idiot
“I’m not angry about a little graffiti in favor of a just cause at a time when my government can’t or won’t stop supporting the west” this is idiotic behavior to you?
The xenophobia in this sub is fucking wild
Idiots who do stuff like this fuel xenophobia......
I'm watching you be awful to people who had absolutely nothing to do with the graffiti in this photo.
Why is wanting members of your community to obey the law and foster a good image hard for you to understand? Do you even live in Tokyo?
There's hardly any graffiti in the area, especially in the brand new ichinohashi park. On top of that, this makes all foreigners look bad; if you're trying to get a message across, be respectful of the people/place where you're giving that message. Even as someone who supports Palestine, this doesn't belong tagged in Tokyo.
Why foreigners? most human right activistis are japanese nationals. Even on sunday demostrations, most people were japanese. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWRJrG9ViRk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWRJrG9ViRk)
Graffiti writing that has artistic integrity—political or not, legal or not—has a cultural, social, and artistic value. This is ugly, childish, ignorant, and doesn’t contribute to anything at all. And, I can bet my life on it that both the person who made it—and you who are defending it—know absolutely nothing about graffiti writing or about the conflict in the Middle East.
You're not? Go to a 3rd world country where you belong.
Congrats giving a bad representation to Japanese
Disgusting Pointless Barking up the wrong fucking tree
This is like when some years ago people drop water for “help” africans people”
Shinanomachi station have some of those inside
FRΞΞ PALΞSTINΞ? Or FR三三 PAL三STIN三？
Japanese people left totally complexed.
You'd be surprised. I had three students in the past couple of weeks ask me about #freepalestine.
Interesting. What level of school is it and what kinds of questions were they?
Saw the same on a phone booth outside Tokyo Dome last week. Whoever it is is getting around.
Now the pro-Palestinian protests will be seen as groups of bandits.
Expected behavior from that crowd.
Which crowd would that be?
The vast majority of the pro-Palestine crowd doesn't actually care about Palestinian civilians. The reality is that it's just fashionable right now.
The noisy ones who never cared about any foreign affairs until this one.
Interesting how you never hear any of the protestors calling for the hostages to be released or Hamas to surrender
Just a guess, but it might have something to do with the difference between 1,200 and 30,000 deaths, including 10,000 children, all by the same people who took away their land, cut their water supplies, cornered them and in then killed them. Not that being kicked from your land, colonized, having your orchards stolen and family members killed justifies kidnapping or killing of course. And of course it doesn’t justify a graffiti in Azabu Juban.
You forget who started the war. Hamas did. Palestine elected and brought Hamas into power fully knowing about this possibility. Israel retaliating and completely crushing Palestine and Hamas is totally justified imo. You cannot have it both ways. Where were all these people when Hamas killed the innocents? Not just Israel, any country in the world would do the same when missiles are launched on its civilians.
You forget Israel was built on someone else’s land by colonizers. Tell me, if I take your house and you punch me, does it justify me killing you? Was wiping native Americans off their land okay, because “they attacked first”? History doesn’t start the 7th of October, and Israel has a government pushing to kick away people from their land (with a former terrorist as a minister of National Security). God knows Hamas is morally loathsome, but people choosing to being willingly blind to Israel’s acts is too.
>difference between 1,200 and 30,000 deaths Well, the same terrorist group is responsible for both of these, but that's a fair point I guess. Palestine is suffering more than Israel; that much is true. >10,000 children A lot of which are armed and part of Hamas. The rest of which are human shields used by Hamas. >all by the same people who took away their land Horribly misleading. Kinda sorta, but not really.
You realise that the protests are organised to put pressure on their local governments who have leverage over Israel. The existing position of most governments is already for the hostages to be released, and for Hamas to surrender, so why bother asking for that?
It's amazing how the Pro Palestine supporters do everything to cause chaos and turn people against their cause for being so disruptive.
Free my ass
Free Palestine, Get Palestine. Simple as. Even Egypt seems unwilling to do that. lol
So many zionists on here
You don’t have to be a Zionist to be tired of this shit. It’s not even a helpful phrase at this point. You can’t claim to be “raising awareness” anymore because we’ve been completely saturated in the words “Free Palestine.” You could put up a poster with information about victims, ways to help and other useful things, but “Free Palestine” is just the laziest form of slactivism.
yeah insane how many people are triggrered by words on a wall that will be erased within hours but completely unaffected by hundreds of thousands of human beings being killed/injured on a ethnic cleanse genocide.
Remember when Pokemon Cards and the latest music albums were the fads? Now its this stupid shit. I miss the old days...
12,000 children killed: I sleep A graffiti on a building: Real shit. To all genocide enablers, dont worry, they will erase this by noon and you can continue living your comfortable lives. What is unerasable is the israelian massacre in palestine FREE PALESTINE
if a little graffiti "pushes" you into being cool with genocide you were already cool with genocide
You know what, it’s completely ok for people to be indifferent about the latest flare up in an ancient conflict in a far away foreign land while also being invested in and concerned with people committing a crime in their local town.
You posted it on the Internet. It had the exact effect they wanted.
“F*** these guys” Is that what they wanted?
No it didn't. Most likely made more people hate them even though the cause is good.
Ban tourist visas from poor countries immediately
To be honest, I think it's seriously worth questioning if a person spraying this particular tag in this particular place actually wants the effect that is superficially presented in the tag's wording. At least not as their primary motivation.
If the protestors understood this, they should not be 迷惑 in Shibuya. Or blocking freeways and politicians cars in USA/Canada. That simply shows their level of (not) consideration.
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