The Essence of Tokyo
Illustrated by Those Who Embody it

poweredby.tokyo is a community driven initiative that seeks to establish the modern Tokyojin.
We aim to authentically and organically capture, document and communicate Tokyo's unique
urban culture through the insight and experience of the very people that shape it while
redefining what it means to call Tokyo home.

The 21st century has heralded profound changes in how we interact with one another. With modern means of communication and travel, our imagination is no longer bound by our immediate sensory reach. Communities are today being bred on a global scale, and even the very notion of citizenship is now rapidly being renegotiated. In this globalized era, patriotic loyalties seem less and less appropriate, and allegiances are more easily pledged to a city than they are to a nationalistic flag and anthem.

Tokyo tends to be poorly represented, by individuals far removed from its streets, shop fronts, and most active cultural breeding grounds. These people seldom can speak to their people’s true cultural spirit, and because they are also bound to larger political interests, they typically are unfit to serve as cultural delegates. The problem isn’t their heart or willingness necessarily; it’s their isolation from events happening on the ground, their professional bias, and the fact that none of them have their hands held close enough to the fire.

With Tokyo's rapidly changing demographics we are witnessing a new era of cultural innovation and being forced to reevaluate how we identify as residents of this city. Tokyojin is more than a citizen of Tokyo; it's the spirit and state of mind of anyone that is connected and committed to pushing the city's creative and cultural boundaries.

These men and women— the inspired everyday citizens who tend the fire and survive on its warmth— are best qualified to occupy the podium themselves. Their voices are most compelling because most loudly they resound with genuine insight, knowledge, and experience.

poweredby.tokyo was built with these ideas in mind. A community platform for the culturally discerning, it allows individuals to independently showcase their city, from their own curated perspective. It’s time we acknowledge who our real cultural advocates are, and that cities claim back their individual powers of speech.