Ceramic Relief
“Procession Spin“
Unveiled at Ginza Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line on December 15, 2025
The Japan Traffic Culture Association (JPTCA) has produced a large ceramic relief, with the original art and supervision provided by world-renowned manga artist OTOMO Katsuhiro. This project was made possible with the sponsorship of Seiko Group Corporation (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Director, Chairman, Group CEO & Group CCO: HATTORI Shinji) and the Metro Cultural Foundation (Location: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Chairman: HONDA Masaru), and the cooperation of Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Taito-ku, Tokyo; President: KOSAKA Akihiro). The artwork will be installed near Exit B1 of the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line Ginza Station and publicly unveiled on Monday, December 15, 2025.
The title of the piece is “Procession Spin.” It is a high-density arrangement of actual artworks, structures, spiritual forms, and futuristic/creative expressions, all placed within a massive, swirling current. The artwork and its title embody a continuous stream of various arts created by humanity since the Jomon period, flowing from the present moment onward into the future. The piece visualizes the accumulated time through which the thoughts and prayers humanity sought to express in each era have been inherited and handed down, changing their form along the way.
This multilayered expression is a large work, measuring 2.4 meters high and 7.0 meters wide, composed of a total of 168 pieces: 164 ceramic relief pieces and 4 pieces made of bronze. Its sheer size, the powerful volume unique to three-dimensional ceramic relief, and the rich color expression alongside meticulous detailing combine to create an overwhelming presence, leaving a significant impact on visitors to Ginza.
To color the ceramic relief, 290 types of glazes were blended and applied. Driven by the desire to reproduce diverse artistic forms, including the feelings and intentions of the people who created them, the craftsmen employed special techniques and ingenuity in glazing and firing. This complex process resulted in rich, nuanced colors and an unprecedented level of texture. For example, the Jomon period earthenware section on the right side of the composition was rendered using a specially compounded glaze based on refined rice paddy soil to achieve its texture. Gold leaf was applied to the Eleven-Headed Kannon statue in the center. Furthermore, in the section on the left, which continues toward the future, the metallic feel of metal was expressed by layering low-temperature glazes. Mr. OTOMO personally colored the sticker on the motorcycle located in the lower left.
This work is the 563rd public art piece planned by the JPTCA. It was produced over approximately two years by seven artisans at the Creare Atami Yugawara Studio (Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture), based on the original drawings that Mr. OTOMO spent about three years creating.
－Overview of the Artwork－
○Project Objectives
① To explore the importance of promoting public art through a ceramic relief based on the original drawings of manga artist OTOMO Katsuhiro.
② To create a space that soothes and energizes people’s spirits by encouraging easy familiarity with art through public installations.
③ To contribute to the development of tourism resources and regional revitalization in central Tokyo.
○Location
Near Exit B1 of Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line Ginza Station
○Scale and Specification
H 2.4ｍ × W 7.0ｍ, Ceramic Relief
○Original Art & Supervision
OTOMO Katsuhiro
○Title
Procession Spin
○Sponsorship
Seiko Group Corporation, Metro Cultural Foundation
○Cooperation
Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd.
○Artist Profile
OTOMO Katsuhiro
Manga Artist / Film Director
Born in 1954 in Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture.
His major works are “Domu“, “AKIRA“, etc. He has given a great influence on the cartoon world after 1980s, through his style, which had not existed in previous Japanese cartoons such as drawing precisely with uniform lines without relying on pen touch and configuring screens with complicated perspective drawings. He is working on the video also, by directing feature animation works “AKIRA“, “MEMORIES“, “STEAMBOY” and so on by himself.
In 2015, he provided the original art and supervision for his first public artwork, “Kinka Doji Riding the Waves Accompanied by Fujin and Raijin“, installed at Sendai Airport. In 2020, he provided the original art and supervision for the ceramic relief “ELEMENTS OF FUTURE” at Institute of Science Tokyo Ookayama Campus.
○Ceramic Relief Production
CREARE Atami-Yugawara Studio (230-1 Izumi, Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture)
The Japan Traffic Culture Association (JPTCA) supports the research and production of public art, including stained glass, ceramic relief, and monuments, as part of its activities to promote art culture and environmental art.
The CREARE Atami-Yugawara Studio, designed by architect KUMA Kengo, is fully equipped with a glaze research facility, a molding studio, a stained glass studio, and a showroom. It primarily produces public artworks using stained glass and ceramic reliefs/panels. The studio manages 6,500 colors of glaze used for ceramic relief. Furthermore, its stained glass, which originated in Europe, is created with delicate and detailed Japanese designs that surprise foreign visitors. The studio also serves as a hub for creativity, collaborating with many artists, including those from overseas.
