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Is Tokyo’s Expensive Projection Mapping Tourist Draw Worth It?

Unseen Japan
3 min readJun 7, 2024

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Godzilla and others take center stage in a projection mapping exhibit in Tokyo that some say isn’t worth its hefty price tag.

Picture: K@zuTa / PIXTA(ピクスタ)

By Himari Semans

Tokyo is pouring a lot of taxpayer money into a nighttime light show screening Godzilla and other artworks on a scale that won a Guinness World Record. The project’s expense is drawing negative attention at a time when incumbent governor Koike Yuriko can least afford it.

Tokyo spends big bucks on a big light show

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building displays the largest architectural projection-mapped display recognized by the Guinness World Records. Since late April, a 100-meter Godzilla has illuminated the capital’s landmark.

The 70-year-old franchise won its first Oscar for best visual effects in March with Takashi Yamazaki’s “Godzilla Minus One.” This is the seventh projection-mapping artwork since the government launched “Tokyo Night & Light” in February.

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Unseen Japan
Unseen Japan

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