On December 15th 2025, world renowned animation director, manga artist ( and creator of AKIRA ) Katsuhiro Otomo unveiled a giant wall mural sculpture art ( bas-relief ). Titled ‘Procession Spin‘, it is now on permanent display at the Tokyo Metro Ginza station ( Hibiya Line ).

The following excerpt is from a HYPEBEAST article-

– Two years in the making, the artwork, measuring 7 meters wide and 2.4 meters high, lifts one of Otomo’s original illustrations off the page, and into a dense, ceramic relief. Made up of 164 individual ceramic tiles, 4 bronzes and 290 glazes, the artist collaborated closely with seven craftsmen from CREARE Atami-Yugawara Studio, an atelier that specializes in large-scale public art, to complete the massive puzzle.

“I’ve shaped the flow of art — from the Jomon period to the present and beyond — into a single form,” the artist said in a recent statement. “The thoughts and prayers people wished to express by era are passing down while changing form. From that sequence, I’m lining up the fragments that have drawn me in and remain in my heart.”

Reading from right to left, the piece begins with Jomon-era earthenware, its rugged, aged feel made possible through a special compounded glaze made from refined rice paddy soil. The center, representing the present, sees an eleven-headed Kannon, a prominent Buddhist bodhisattva, enveloped in gold leaf to showcase its sacred solemnity. Finally, the leftmost section gestures towards the future through metallic finishes and industrial architecture, also echoing Otomo’s famed sci-fi universes.

Additionally, the lower left corner features a red-clad biker for Akira lovers, perhaps a nod to Shotaro Kaneda, personally colored by Otomo himself.

“From here on, the work belongs to the viewer. When you happen to stop by, approach and retreat as you please,” Otomo continued. “I would be happy if something resonates within you.” –

Check out some pictures of this incredibly detailed sculpture below, as well as the equally detailed drawings by Otomo. All images courtesy of JPTCA ( Japan Traffic Culture Association ).

This is actually not the first time that Otomo has embarked on a massive public art project; back in 2015 he also created a bas-relief piece for Sendai airport based on one of his illustrations.

I’m planning for a trip to Tokyo this coming spring and am excited to visit Ginza station to see this amazing piece in person and to take some photographs. I’ll share more about it after my visit !

Here’s a little more information on where you can locate the art piece, and this is the official page for the art piece on the JPTCA ( Japan Traffic Culture Association ) website.


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