News Shibuya graffiti removal effort gains corporate support

[thomas]

In its strife to tackle graffiti, Shibuya Ward is partnering with local businesses and volunteers to quickly remove ugly scrawls from public spaces. Recognising the frustration of slow bureaucratic processes, the ward streamlined the removal process in 2024. With a simplified application system, graffiti can be removed swiftly from designated areas, even privately owned structures, as long as the work benefits the public. This innovative approach could be a model for other cities grappling with the same urban challenge.

Photo credit: Koki Kubota​

Eight employees from Tokyu Community, a local property management company, recently volunteered to clean up graffiti in the Udagawacho neighbourhood: "It was surprisingly satisfying to remove the graffiti and make the area look better," shared one of the volunteers. This initiative is spearheaded by Sato Keita, head of Tokyu Community's product development department, improved the neighbourhood's appearance and fostered a sense of community and camaraderie among the participating employees.

Under Shibuya ward Mayor Ken Hasebe's leadership, Shibuya launched the graffiti removal drive in fiscal 2021, erasing nearly 12,000 square meters of graffiti over three years. But challenges remained. The project faced delays in obtaining permission to clean up private property. In some cases, it took about a month to get started. "Even after taking the time to clean up, we often found ourselves caught in a game of cat and mouse, with new graffiti appearing shortly afterwards," said Takuya Yoshizawa from the ward's environmental maintenance division. Six months into the new volunteer program for graffiti removal, more than 20 groups, including schools, companies, and volunteer organizations, have joined the effort. Tokyu Community, part of the Tokyu Fudosan Holdings group, engaged in redevelopment projects in Shibuya, has embraced the initiative to demonstrate its commitment to contribute to the local community. At its peak, graffiti in Shibuya covered an estimated 23,000 square meters, hindering the ward's ambition to become a "mature international city."

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