super deluxe: when giant spiders attack

July 06, 2003

when giant spiders attack

What's the best thing about Roppongi Hills aside from the movie theater and a few of the more choice restaurants scattered about the premises? For me, it's definitely this:

(Click here for another, more zoomed-out view.)

What could possibly be better than a statue of a massive, menacing spider, right smack dab in the middle of the plaza?

In the above shot, it kinda looks like it's headed off to attack Tokyo Tower. Creepy.

Posted by john tv at July 6, 2003 08:37 PM | TrackBack

Comments

That's crazy. Why is that there?

Posted by: Nich at July 6, 2003 10:11 PM

To remind the Japanese of their many-decades-long struggle against giant monsters. Sure, they've only seen giant birds, lizards, and moths. So it is this serves the dual purpose of historical awareness and preparation for the future. It says so on a plaque somewhere, I'm sure.

Posted by: tim at July 7, 2003 12:35 AM

Eeeeks! Scariness! But I'd love to see the gigantic spider with my own eyes! It's one of those crazy things in Japan that you have to see to believe!

Posted by: Kim at July 7, 2003 08:37 PM

The craziest thing is that when you've been living here for a couple of years you don't even notice giant spiders anymore...

Posted by: a0me at July 7, 2003 10:11 PM

Does this remind anyone else of Kama-jiji (i think) from Sen to Chihiro? apart from the lack of John Lennon shades and facial hair of course.

Posted by: Cormac at July 8, 2003 11:08 AM

Nich -- there's no special reason for it. It's just a big public display of modern art. It's kinda cool, honestly, but it's the only thing of its type in all of Roppongi Hills, which is a bit disappointing. It would've been much better if they had other giant insects or animals or... whatevers... littered throughout the place as well. :) Gives the place a very unique flavor.

Posted by: john tv at July 9, 2003 10:17 PM

That's a sculpture by Louise Bourgeois. She's a prolific contemporary artist, and makes a bunch of weird, incredible stuff. Check out more about her here:
http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/bourgeois/
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/bourgeois_louise.html
They have some of those in NYC and other places. Cool that they're taking over Japan, too. :)

Posted by: Shawn Smith at July 9, 2003 11:41 PM

There's a very, very similar sculpture at the Balbao Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, Spain. Go visit that museum if you ever get a chance, highly recommended.

Posted by: NSi at July 19, 2003 07:55 AM