Tokyo Rising – Documentary About Fashion in Post-Earthquake Japan w/ Pharrell Williams

Pharrell Williams is best known as a music producer and member of The Neptunes and N.E.R.D., but he is also – along with Nigo from Bape – the co-founder of the made-in-Japan fashion brands Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream. Pharrell has built many close relationships in Japan over the last decade via his music and fashion connections. He also often expresses his personal interest in and respect for Japanese culture.

So when the devastating earthquake hit Japan in March of this year, Pharrell was profoundly concerned for the country. He was also interested in how Japanese artists, designers, musicians, and other creative people would react to such a tragedy. To try to answer that question, he hosts a new documentary film called “Tokyo Rising”.

Tokyo Rising 6%DOKIDOKI

“Tokyo Rising” doesn’t dwell on the damage that the 110311 earthquake and tsunami did to the country. There are plenty of sources of information on that part of the tragedy. Instead, this movie seeks answers to the question “how will Tokyo be different in the wake of the disaster?” How will Japanese art, fashion, and other popular culture be re-born in a post-earthquake post-Fukushima world? Various people in the film have different thoughts on the issue, but everyone is optimistic that even something this horrible can lead to positive societal changes in the long run.

The cinematography in “Tokyo Rising” is beautiful, showing Tokyo in all of its glory. From skyscrapers to night clubs to underground boutiques to literally-underground drainage systems under the city, the movie covers a lot of ground. “Tokyo Rising” features interviews with quite a few people from the Tokyo fashion scene (Sebastian from 6%DOKIDOKI, Verbal & Yoon from Ambush, a tour of the Koenji Kita-Kore Building), but it also features Japanese musicians (Trippple Nippples), artists (Chim Pom), curators, magazine editors, anti-nuclear activists, and others.

Created in collaboration with footwear brand Palladium Boots, the full “Tokyo Rising” documentary is approximately 30 minutes long. The film can be viewed for free online without any advertisements or other promotional intrusions (other than the occasional camera angle of Pharrell’s shoes while he walks/bikes around Tokyo), which is a really cool move by Palladium Boots.

If you’re interested in watching “Tokyo Rising”, but aren’t quite sure if you want to invest the full 30 minutes, we recommend that you check out part four first. It’s the segment that features Sebastian from 6%DOKIDOKI and others talking about why Harajuku is what it is. It also features a tour of the Kita Kore Building in Koenji by Yoon. Honestly, if you love Tokyo, you should watch the entire film. We’ve posted all five parts below, but you can also check out the entire film in high resolution at the Palladium Boots website (link at the bottom of this article). Once you’ve seen it, definitely let us know what you think in the comments. Enjoy “Tokyo Rising”…

Tokyo Rising Movie – Part 4 – With 6%DOKIDOKI, BAPE & Kita Kore

 

Tokyo Rising Movie – Part 1

 

Tokyo Rising Movie – Part 2

 

Tokyo Rising Movie – Part 3

 

Tokyo Rising Movie – Part 5

 

Watch “Tokyo Rising” in full resolution at the Palladium Boots Website.

Comments are closed.

  1. Wow!!!! It sounds like an amazing job!!! I’m really curious.
    Definetely gonna watch it.

  2. why is it when i search to watch Tokyo Rising, all of the parts of the video get all green and pink and pixely ): I even tried watching it on different sites but they are all the same D: On part 2 right now and so far I am liking what I see! :D

  3. Smilebaby

    wooow it even has dutch subtitles !
    thank you !!! :)
    I really liked the docu it was really well made
    keep uploading more things like this :)

  4. Kia Johansen

    I löv Tokyo .I löv Japan and everything that is Japanese culture .I had thé fabulous fortune to fashion model on different contracts between 1996 – 2007 in Tokyo. The art and fashion scene was and is vast,t eclectic ,super dynamic and sooooo creative ! I cherish my wonderful experiences of the fashion music art and cultural scene ! Thank you for this documentary – FABULOUS !!!
    Sincerely ,
    Kia

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  6. Awesome documentary that really captures the mood of the young people in Japan these days I think :)
    I used to live in Tokyo for 5 months and really fell in love with the country and all those lovely people.
    So thank you for this positive, inspiring documentary!

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  8. I love this. I mean it’s so inspiring and so wonderful to watch it. More people should see this. Seriously. ^^