From Saturday, March 8 to Sunday, May 11, 2025, the Tokyo debut of a major solo exhibition by artist Tomokazu Matsuyama, who is active globally from his base in New York, will be held at Azabudai Hills Gallery. The venue will also feature a pre-sale of "BE@RBRICK TOMOKAZU MATSUYAMA 100% & 400%". To commemorate this, we spoke with Mr. Matsuyama about the theme of this exhibition, the meaning behind the title "FIRST LAST," and his impressions of BE@RBRICK.

—Your style, which reconstructs by combining elements from both East and West, past and present, is globally acclaimed. What do you keep in mind during your creative process?

MatsuyamaThe words "culture" and "civilization" might sound similar at first glance, but I believe there's something that separates them. Civilization is more universal, what remains after the sieve of time. Culture, on the other hand, is precisely what is happening now, and connecting these two is the driving force behind my work.

Tomokazu Matsuyama
Contemporary artist. Born in Gifu Prefecture in 1976, based in Brooklyn. Primarily known for his paintings, he also presents sculptures and installations. He organically connects and reconstructs elements from opposing poles such as Asia and Europe, ancient and modern, figurative and abstract, creating works that reflect his cross-cultural experiences and the changing face of contemporary society in the information age. He has also undertaken large-scale public art projects, including a mural for the Bowery Mural (New York, USA, 2019), "Hana-o" (Shinjuku East Entrance Station Square, Tokyo, 2020), and "Wheels of Fortune" (Jingu Art Festival, Meiji Jingu, Tokyo, 2020).
Recent major exhibitions include "Mythologiques" (Venice/2024), "Tomokazu Matsuyama: When Snow Moon Flowers Bloom" (Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art/2023), and "MATSUYAMA Tomokazu: Fictional Landscape" (Powerlong Museum Shanghai/2023). His works were also exhibited at the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris until February 2025.

—You've had many opportunities to share your work with a wide audience, including your appearance on TBS's "Jōnetsu Tairiku," the massive "Bowery Mural," and the album jacket for Yuzu's "PEOPLE." Could you tell us about a particularly memorable project among them?

MatsuyamaIt was the public art piece "Hanao-san" in 2020. It was a large project where I was involved not only in creating a massive monument in front of Shinjuku East Entrance Station but also in designing the plaza and the flow of people.

Shinjuku Station is one of the busiest in the world, used by 3.5 million people daily. In such a place, the most important role of culture is to create pathways. The opportunity to undertake such a significant project, to create a flow that allows people to move and create culture, at what is arguably the most iconic station in Japan, if not the world, was very rewarding for me. Furthermore, being able to create a work in collaboration with many stakeholders, including major corporations, general contractors, and government bodies, was an unforgettable experience.

—What can we expect from the "Tomokazu Matsuyama: FIRST LAST" exhibition at Azabudai Hills Gallery? Please also tell us about the meaning behind the title "FIRST LAST."

MatsuyamaThis is my first large-scale solo exhibition in Tokyo, and it will feature approximately 40 works, including 19 pieces being shown in Japan for the first time, such as the over 6-meter wide painting "We Met Thru Match.com," which marked a turning point in my career. I will also be unveiling a new series titled "First Last," which also gives the exhibition its name.

This series, meaning "the first and the last" in English, reflects the long yet short journey to finally holding this major solo exhibition in Tokyo.

It is also a message to our paradoxical contemporary society, where balance is maintained through constant challenges: "the latter becomes the former, and the former becomes the latter." Starting from the issues facing American society, it is an attempt to re-examine the world through my own perspective and create new empathy through art.

—To coincide with the exhibition, "BE@RBRICK TOMOKAZU MATSUYAMA 100% & 400%" will be released. What were your impressions of BE@RBRICK before this collaboration?

MatsuyamaI collaborated with BE@RBRICK about 15 years ago (released March 2010, limited to 300 domestic units, "BE@RBRICK Tomokazu Matsuyama 100% & 400%"). At that time, it was a triple-name collaboration linked with Nike's high-end line "NIKE NSW." Releasing sandals, court shoes, and BE@RBRICKs all with a single graphic worldwide remains a vivid and impactful memory.

Since then, I've had opportunities to receive offers, but in those cases, I wanted to create something together not just by making a BE@RBRICK, but as an extension of "communicating a culture" and "creating an impact."

The BE@RBRICK icon is a chameleon-like entity that can express various people's expressions and languages by adorning them onto that form. I believe it is a unique global language originating from Tokyo.

—Please share any anecdotes from the production of "BE@RBRICK TOMOKAZU MATSUYAMA 100% & 400%." We'd also love to hear your thoughts on the finished BE@RBRICK.

MatsuyamaWhen the exhibition was decided to be held in a commercial facility, I thought that collaborating again after so long could lead to a broader, more progressive way of communication with Medicom Toy. Something that would surpass our previous collaboration.

At the timing of my first major solo exhibition in Tokyo, an item featuring my artwork was born. Although the production period was short, I was able to work alongside Medicom Toy.

Working with Medicom Toy again after 15 years, I visited their headquarters and discovered advancements in various technologies, learning about new methods of expression and ways to adapt artworks that weren't possible before. Also, their extensive work with many art pieces provided a valuable learning opportunity.

My approach for this project involves quoting symbols from various cultures and eras, and while drawing on Christianity, which can be seen as symbolizing the United States, the work itself is extremely vibrant with a strong impact of color.

By wrapping the iconic works of this exhibition, I focused on allowing people to take home something more from their experience at the exhibition, and I feel it has resulted in a truly ideal piece.

—We look forward to the experience at the "FIRST LAST" exhibition. Lastly, could you tell us about your future plans?

MatsuyamaAbout a year and a half ago, I had a major exhibition at the Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art in Aomori, and now this exhibition in Tokyo. Being able to have a large exhibition in my hometown where I grew up has a special meaning for me, like a true homecoming.

For the next few years, my activities will continue in museums in Europe and the United States, with exhibitions in American and European museums forming the main focus of my work. I also intend to continue delivering art to public spaces, and I will share updates on that via social media.

BE@RBRICK TOMOKAZU MATSUYAMA 100% & 400%
Size | Approx. 70mm / 280mm total height each
Release Date | Pre-sale at the "Tomokazu Matsuyama: FIRST LAST" exhibition held from Saturday, March 8 to Sunday, May 11, 2025, at Azabudai Hills Gallery (Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza A, B1F). Subsequent sales planned at Medicom Toy's directly managed stores and other retailers.
Price | 24,200 yen (tax included)
*Limited quantity. Please forgive us if sold out.
©️ TOMOKAZU MATSUYAMA All Rights Reserved
BE@RBRICK TM & ©️ 2001-2025 MEDICOM TOY CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Tomokazu Matsuyama Exhibition: FIRST LAST
Exhibition Period | Saturday, March 8, 2025 – Sunday, May 11, 2025 (Open daily)
Hours | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Fridays, Saturdays, and days before holidays: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM)
Admission Fee | General: 2,400 yen | University/Vocational/High School Students: 1,900 yen | Ages 4-Junior High School Students: 1,300 yen | Under 4: Free
Venue | Azabudai Hills Gallery (Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza A, B1F, 5-8-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
https://www.tomokazu-matsuyama-firstlast.jp/