Pop artist Yoshitomo Nara arrested for graffiti in New York

Tuesday 10th March, 08:40 AM JST

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soldave at 03:25 PM JST - 10th March

Wonder if he has done the same here in Japan? Anyone know if he's been arrested for similar crimes here?
outofmydepth at 03:51 PM JST - 10th March

what an idiot. his stuff is in MoMA for crying out loud. why did he have to do such a childish and destructive thing in NYC America? foreigners!!!
nisegaijin at 04:57 PM JST - 10th March

Whatever. I don't really have a problem with graffiti, and I'm sure whatever he was drawing looked a lot nicer than most of the other tags and advertisements in the station.

Agreed.
helloklitty at 05:12 PM JST - 10th March

There were some Japanese jerks writing graffitti in the Grand Canyon a while back, too.

Two days and how much of a fine?

They should make sure he's bumped and loses his luggage on his flight home.
BBLeo at 05:40 PM JST - 10th March

He was only trying to show a Japanese art in USA. Was he painting a Japanese flag? If he will get imprisonment he will be much happier than being behind the bars ion Japan. They will for sure kick him out from USA.
Nessie at 06:10 PM JST - 10th March

If only those j-students in italy has called themselves pop artists...
BigInJapan at 06:38 PM JST - 10th March

Foreigners! They don't have respect for our country, they don't have respect to our culture! They come, and vandalize the city, and they even laugh after they are caught by the police! Take fingerprint from all foreigners, and don't let them back ! They cause all the trouble, and their country even fail to say sorry when they do such hideous things to such nice cities!
Brunobear at 07:25 PM JST - 10th March

It is ironic that New York City is where the graffiti craze began and via the art industry i.e., "Movies", they sent it around the world. New York has learned the lesson and are now the toughest on those who continue to do it. It is especially tragic when the guy doing it is 49, let alone stealing someone elses property as his canvas. We have enormous numbers of Japanese visitors to Australia each year and their behavior is always absolutely impeccable. I would never think of a Japanese doing such petty vandalism. It will be the last time Mr Nara' visits the US in this life.
ambrosia at 08:03 PM JST - 10th March

He's a famous artist with works in MOMA. If he really wanted I'm sure he could have found an empty wall near a school or some such place and done a mural for people to enjoy. This graffiti stunt sounds like the work of a narcisstic man who hasn't grown up.

Brunobear: "I would never think of a Japanese doing such petty vandalism."

Seriously? Damaged statues on Easter Island, graffiti in Rome, shoplifting in a Seattle (?) airport - all brought to you by the impeccable Japanese. And who in the world do you think puts all the graffiti seen all over Tokyo?

I have a friend with a boutique in Nakano-Sakaoae and her security gate was tagged three times in one year and the plants she had outside her shop were stolen twice, despite being chained down. Given that 98% of the people in Tokyo are Japanese I'd say it's more than fair to assume the vandals and thieves were - Japanese. Comments like yours are not only ludicrious but show a show a subtle racism by suggesting that one group of people is better or above others. You think you're complimenting them but I think it's about as much of a compliment as assuming all Native Americans have some sort of mystical powers.
yawmin at 01:35 AM JST - 11th March

i think its a sweet story, this guy probably watched beat street growing up (explaining his love for Graf) and after becomming a professional artist (his art was posted up legitly in that city) he wanted to fullfill his dream of doing graf in NY. Its not like he was "tagging" with scrawl, he was making art for everyone to enjoy, it was a subway station, it wasnt like he bombed a monument or something that looked pretty to begin with. also hes not complaining that he got caught, he knew this risk (look what happend to spit and ramo on beat street), im glad he got to realize his dream, like i did when i bombed sakuragicho. . .(i didnt get caught in 2000) IF ART IS A CRIME THEN GOD FORGIVE ME~
NYC_Samurai at 05:52 AM JST - 11th March

14th St. station is a $#!+hole anyway so who cares.
He should have simply asked for permission. This was obviously a pub stunt.
notjeff1 at 10:30 AM JST - 11th March

Got to be a publicity stunt. There is a police station in the Union Sq station. This is very unusual in New York City. There are cops in the station, and lots of them all the time. Plus when he did this it was cold. The cops are lazy so they all stay in the train station. There is almost no way he would not get caught.

Im pretty amuzed though. Its tough to find graffiti in NYC these days. Its so generic now, it could use it.
helloklitty at 07:27 PM JST - 12th March

Its so generic now, it could use it.

You mean, like, on someone's place of business?
yawmin at 01:35 AM JST - 13th March

Hellokitty: You mean, like, on someone's place of business?

nah he meant in the subway stations in NYC
AMJAD at 05:52 PM JST - 26th May

I am surprised they are letting him back in the usa. they are usually really strict. even if you have been arrested in your home country, they will refuse entry, let alone getting arrested in the usa. even patrick vandereem who is viewed by many americans as a hero was refused entry because he had been arrested 10yrs ago.