[Sangetsu]

Graffiti is common in Japan, and you'll find it in many places if you look hard enough. Near my local train station there is plenty of graffiti to be found on and under the bridge. If any of you visit Tokyo and go to Roppongi, just follow the main street (Roppongi-Dori) toward Akasaka; there is a place were Roppongi-Dori passes beneath another road. The walls of the tunnel near the entrance and exit are covered with graffiti. For those of you who go to Harajuku, there is a small amphitheater across the street from Yoyogi park which can be reached by a small bridge, the underside of this bridge is well known for it's artistic graffiti.

Graffiti is not well-tolerated in Japan. The areas where you find it tend to be older, dirtier, and have more crime. Late last year a murder was committed in my town, and many reporters from around the country came to the crime scene. One of the things they commented about was the graffiti in the area, and they stated that the abundance of graffiti was linked to the laziness of the police.