Why Japan’s utility poles won’t be disappearing anytime soon
Director Hideaki Anno reflects on his aesthetic appreciation for utility poles in Japanese urban landscapes. He argues against their removal, suggesting they add character to otherwise visually dull cities.
Why it matters
It highlights the intersection of urban planning, aesthetics, and cultural identity in Japanese infrastructure debates.
During a 2014 talk show held as part of the 27th Tokyo International Film Festival’s special program, “Neon Genesis Evangelion” creator Hideaki Anno reflected on his fascination with utility poles — remarks later published in a transcript by Movie Walker Press.While discussing his 2000 live-action film “Shiki-Jitsu” shot in his hometown of Ube, Yamaguchi Prefecture, the award-winning animator and director described growing up near factories and said that he has long been drawn to industrial landscapes and masses of steel.“There’s a movement in political circles to get rid of utility poles, but our cities are visually dull enough as it is,” he said.
The article is a neutral report on a public figure's personal aesthetic opinion.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in