Photo: Sergio Yoneda / Shutterstock.com

Giant Cat Wins the Hearts of Many in Shinjuku

Cat take your eyes away

Photo: Sergio Yoneda / Shutterstock.com
Caleb Cello   - 2 min read

It's a common sight in Japan to see cats frolicking or walking leisurely. Because their numbers continue to grow in abundance, there are numerous cat islands all over the country, like Aoshima and Tashirojima. Cats just seem to blend in with the scenery Japan offers and they're a part of the superstitious culture as people believe that felines bring good fortune with them. With such a positive reputation, cats unsurprisingly dominate even the neon-lit and upbeat streets of Shinjuku but in a more modern fashion.

Looming in a languid but sometimes playful manner over one of Tokyo's busiest railway stations, a gigantic 3D cat materializes and astonishes many passersby. The hyperrealistic calico begins to extend its paws at 7 am on a 1,664-square-foot curved LED screen and ends at 1 am. The 4K-resolution display breathes life on the imagery, adorably meowing every now and then. Shifting from one commercial to another, the cat changes position throughout the day as it mostly sits in the afternoon and lays asleep on its paws at night. One can't help but stop and stare at how kawaii and awe-inspiring the image is, as if it’s begging to be pet from up there. Far from the unmoving, traditional, and less fascinating billboards, technology brings us to a new height of business and entertainment.

If you find yourself shopping in Tokyo, take a glimpse at this darling furball located at the east exit of Shinjuku Station. This is just one of many realistic billboards that are expected to sprout up in different areas where advanced technology continues to develop digital art. What kind of visual display would you like to be featured?

Caleb Cello

Caleb Cello @cello.caleb