A boy plays on an artwork made of unwanted toys at the solo exhibition of Japanese artist Hiroshi Fuji, known for his creations that recycle unwanted toys and waste materials, at 3331 Arts Chiyoda in Tokyo on Thursday. More than 100,000 unwanted toys collected by social groups across Japan for the past 13 years were used in the exhibition. Called "Central Kaeru Station - where have all these toys come from?" the exhibition runs until Sunday.
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paulinusa
Does he look happy and content or what?
SimondB
Learning at an early age how to fit in to a throw-away society. Incredible the stuff Japanese throw out. I came across a temple in Sengendai where you take childrens fluffy stuffed toys where they are, according to my wife, blessed by a priest before being cremated as they are thought to contain part of the spirit of the child that owned them. Or something like that.
smithinjapan
The boy is ambitious, and if he can pull it off at that age he has a bright future. But I have to be honest, when I saw that pile of unwanted toys and the boy in the picture, I kind of thought for a second that he was one of many needy children here and/or abroad that was going to be given as a gift what others saw fit to waste. Then I read they are going to be turned into a piece of art. I hope the kid can realize his goal with but a few of them and donate the rest to those who would get real joy from it.
bogva
As I had to move houses we had to reduce our belongings. Toys were first on the list of my wife as kids have outgrown them up. Many of the toys were good or had sentimental meaning so I didn't want just to trow away but rather give to someone. The other option is to "sell" to Hard Off - you don't get more than few yen but at least somebody can buy later cheap toys.
Well here comes the real part as my wife opposed that she can not give used toys to her acquaintances. Despite that I gave quite a few to our neighbor and to my colleague - both were very happy and their kids enjoyed playing with their "new" toys.
So I guess I have to point finger at the society again. When I was kid we reused toys and books from previous generations. Now the consumer society just eats and spits :-(
Disillusioned
It's to tell if he is playing on art or on a pile of rubbish?
blackrock
Hopefully not made in China, otherwise the boy was swimming in a sea of lead /sarcasm
gogogo
ahhh I hate kids plastic toys, whatever happened to wood and metal toys?
whiskeysour
Reminds me of Tokyo Bay !!!! Full of pet bottles, plastic, tires, & rubbish.
Some of the toys can be donated to Africa and other third world countries.
Especially toy balls, cars, and etc.
alliswellinjapan
There used to be the same number of children who actually played with these toys - Would have proposed considering a political message for this demanding larger number of newborn children to save the future of the nation
BernieK
Hey, I found Nemo. Also, there appears to be a pizza, planet, truck...
Disillusioned
The paints they used on them were full of lead. That is what happened to them.
shanabelle
This is art?? It is a dumpster full of toys. Sheesh.
Apsara
Who are you talking about, the boy in the picture? He's not the artist...
Thomas Anderson
These toys can be lent or reused or recycled.
Elbuda Mexicano
Japan has few children, but I bet if you donated these same toys to very poor children in 3rd world countries, they would shining smiles, and grins from EAR TO EAR, I do hope they give them to needy children in poor countries after this art exhibition has finished.
TrentonGaijin
I guess I'm the only one whose first thought was "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" & the Island of Misfit Toys....
cwhite
cheap junk made in China, notice that there are no wooden toys thrown out, even people of this day and age know the difference between rubbish and quality toys that can be passed down a few generations. I can surmise that 70% of this trash is MacDonald's and family restaurants give away crap. What is scary is that many of those toys have lithium button batteries in them which are a heath hazard and makes recycling a nightmare.
YongYang
The planet is FINITE. We HAVE to stop ourselves and stop producing garbage. The vast majority of plastics are NOT recycled.