I have been working in a gallery in Tokyo for three years now. As a rising art curator, I am accustomed to shuttling back and forth between Ginza and Omotesando. That day at the Qingshendao Shoya Bookstore on Daiguan Mountain, I was selecting reference materials for the next exhibition when a man’s actions caught my attention.
He sat on the retro sofa in the corner, carefully reading a book called ‘Japanese Ukiyo-e’. To my surprise, his laptop screen displayed complex trading charts. This contrast made me unable to resist taking a few more glances.
The world in ukiyo-e is much more interesting than the K-line chart, isn’t it? “I couldn’t help but speak up. He looked up in surprise with a slightly apologetic smile and said, “I’ve been discovered. Actually, I’m researching the pricing of NFT artworks and looking for inspiration from ukiyo-e.
His name is Ken, a Chinese Canadian who is engaged in cryptocurrency investment in Tokyo. Unlike typical investors, he has a unique understanding of art. Blockchain is like ukiyo-e, both are ways of recording the times, “he said,” just one using wooden boards and the other using code
On the weekend, he came to see the exhibition I planned about loneliness in the digital age. What surprised me was that he didn’t only focus on the value of the work like other investors, but could understand the emotions behind it.
We often forage in the alleys of Ginza, and he tells the story of early Bitcoin, while I share interesting anecdotes from the art world. In the twilight of Tokyo, even the most serious financial topics have become gentle.
Once, he invited me to the top floor bar of Roppongi Hills. In the distance is the shimmering Tokyo Tower, and nearby is the neon lights of the city. Do you know why I like Tokyo? “He said.” It’s a perfect blend of tradition and the future. Just like me now, I invest in cutting-edge assets while being obsessed with the oldest art
The moonlight that night was beautiful, but his phone beep kept ringing. Bitcoin has fallen again, “he said helplessly. I joked, ‘But the moon is always there, it won’t fall.’ He paused for a moment, then turned off his phone.
Now, my gallery is accepting Bitcoin payments, and he has added several ukiyo-e prints to his office. In this city that blends tradition and modernity, we have all found new possibilities in each other’s worlds.
Perhaps this is what Tokyo taught me: the best love is not to have to fully understand each other’s world, but to be willing to try to see the other side of the world in their own way.
