Roppongi Crossing
If you get off the Chi-Bus at Roppongi Eki Mae and walk back toward Roppongi Crossing, you will see a statue of “Kanaderu Otome” (Girl Playing Guitar) standing gracefully in front of the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi. Looking at the girl playing the classic guitar with a tranquil smile on her face, you feel a strange sense that this one spot is a haven of peace and calm amid the surrounding hustle and bustle. This statue of the girl, installed by the Roppongi Shopping Street Association, commemorates the completion of the redevelopment of the Roppongi area. The modern Japanese sculptor, Shin HONGO, is well known for his Sapporo Olympic monument, “Yuki Hana no Mai,” (Dance of the Snow Flowers), “Izumi no Zo” (Statue of Fountains) in Sapporo’s Odori Koen Park and many other works. This year is the 100th anniversary of his birth and his sculptures symbolizing “Peace and Cooperation” are receiving special attention.
Sculptor Shin HONGO (1905-1980) was born in Sapporo. The Sapporo Museum of Sculpture, housing a permanent exhibition of his works, and the Hongo Shin Memorial Hall, which used to be his atelier, stand in a corner of the Sapporo City Miya-no-Mori. Many of Hongo’s sculptures stand in the garden in front of the building and the surroundings. Of course, “Kanaderu Otome” (Girl Playing Guitar) can also be seen there. If you ever have a chance to visit Sapporo, please try to visit this museum.
