NANZUKA established NANZUKA UNDERGROUND in 2005 with the aim of bridging pop culture and contemporary art. For years, the gallery has been reappraising talents who had been highly-evaluated mostly outside Japan to cast a spotlight on them in the contemporary art scene. At the same time, not only is it helping young artists to be successful, but it is also actively working with overseas galleries.

NANZUKA recently opened NANZUKA TAKEN—their fourth business location following NANZUKA UNDERGROUND (the main gallery in Harajuku), 2G (a gallery, specialty shop, and art toy shop in Shibuya PARCO), and 3110NZ by LDH kitchen (a sushi restaurant in Nakameguro).

You will be welcomed by the pale blue-illuminated interior and artworks when you step inside the dimly-lit main bar area that makes you feel as if you have wandered into outer space.

At the main bar, video art by Hajime Sorayama, who gained worldwide recognition for his Sexy Robot series and who is also known for other activities such as his collaboration with Dior, is being played. The bar also has a cocktail table featuring his artwork. Other pieces of furniture, such as the bar counter and couches, were made by Tetsuya Nakamura, whose works are also displayed in other places like Narita International Airport.

The “Sexy Robot × outer space” video art being played

The main bar is a luxurious space where you can enjoy art in a relaxing atmosphere, surrounded by artworks by NANZUKA’s member artists, such as Daniel Arsham, whose art project in collaboration with The Pokémon Company became the talk of the town, as well as Hiroki Tsukuda, who is gaining worldwide recognition as his work has been included in the collection at The Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Tsukuda’s drawings are displayed on the pale blue-illuminated interior walls.

Also, there is a special, members-only room hidden in the back. Its warm-looking bar counter has been made by sculptor Ryuichi Ohira by carving a log. The space is also decorated with canvas paintings by Keiichi Tanaami, who was the first art director for Japanese “Playboy” magazine, 3D artworks by Haroshi, and paintings by Harumi Yamaguchi.

The members-only room lets you enjoy drinks while appreciating art.

It lets you experience the contemporary art scene of Japan today.

It is a one-of-a-kind art bar, as not only does it serve limited-time cocktails, such as one in collaboration with Keiichi Tanaami and Natsuko Shoji, who is the owner/chef of été, but it also carries a great variety of wines and whiskies.

It has an extensive drink menu, including original cocktails as well as wines and whiskies.

Enjoying everything that NANZUKA has to offer, visiting NANZUKA UNDERGROUND in Harajuku and 2G in Shibuya in the daytime, indulging yourself with sushi in Nakameguro later in the evening, and talking with art fans from around the world over cocktails at the bar in Shibuya to wrap up the day—that would be a great plan for your time in Tokyo.

■DATA NANZUKA TAKEN Address: 2F SHIBUYA AXSH, 2-17-1 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Business hours: 5 p.m. to 12 midnight (Closed on Sundays and public holidays) Reservation: 03-6712-6155 (Call between 3 p.m. and 12 midnight) Official Instagram: @nanzuka_taken

(Information as of August 2024)

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