Globalization in Japan

Graffiti --> Rakkugaki
Graffiti has been around since as long as humans have had something to stain their walls with. However, Japan wasn't brought into the worldwide community of self-expressive vandal art until the late 80s to early 90s, according to this interview with Kubota Kenji, curator of an art museum that held a city-wide graffiti exhibition in Mito in 2005. He says that graffiti came about 10 years after the initial import of hip-hop culture from America. Since then, it has shown up in every major city, with many local artists establishing names (pen names? can names?) for themselves.
About a year ago plus change, I bought a book about the Japanese graffiti scene from Kinokuniya in Seattle. It had a strong focus on local Tokyo artists and a ton and a half of photos. It was love at first sight! Eventually, I made it to Tokyo, and ran into some of the same tags. Ahh, finally seeing KRESS's glorious name, splashed across the wall in Shibuya...
Anyway, the Japanese graffiti scene has a special affinity for goofy, cartoony designs incorporating original characters and vibrant colors. Here's one on a storefront in Yonago (Tottori-ken) that makes an alien abduction look like a fun way to spend the evening.

Note the block letters spelling WAGAMAMA WORLD. Aside from it being a strange name, this style would have been completely at home in Washington, D.C. in the early-mid 1990s. Not so much the cancerous jellybeans and enthusiastic spoon demon.

DOOK DOOK DOOK TSSSS
At Osaka Castle, you can satisfy your appetite for feudal Japanese history, architecture, landscaping...

...and Coke. The samurai were not so lucky as us that they could have popped open a can and taken a load off on the bench here in one of the outer courtyards. kitss-KLAC! You can't escape from the Coca-Cola Beverage Company.