Tokyo Clash is an extraordinary encounter with Japanese design culture. Author and photographer Ralf Bähren presents Japan’s megacity in a visually stunning collection of images, vividly colorful and rich in contrast. He transports readers on an exciting trip through Japanese everyday life – a world that doesn’t want to conform to the cliché of Asian reticence in the least. Eye-catching signs, glittering games of chance, Manga characters and countless other items in the spirited tumult of Japanese products compete for the viewer’s attention. They exist, apparently without any contradiction, alongside traditional temples and Buddha statues. This delightful book promises appealing, provocative and sometimes absurd insights into a foreign universe. “Get ready for the ride of your life!”

Ralf Bähren studied at the International School of Design in Cologne, Germany before specializing in the conception of exhibits for an international audience. His passion for adventure led him to Tokyo for a year, where he lived, worked, and documented the megacity in words and images, with a keen eye for the exceptional.
Highlights

• A fascinating, colorful glimpse into the design and pop culture of Tokyo
• Each two-page spread is devoted to a certain aspect of everyday life
• With original Japanese headings and their translations as well as a guide to pronunciation
• Each phenomenon is examined with equal portions of critique and humor
• Brilliant photographs