Stills

If it helps, I think the lettering was in gold. Kaminarimon is in deepest downtown Tokyo - close to the tourist hive of Asakusa. Off the tourist path there is a wealth of interest to photograph. I knew of THX-1138 and how the letters/numbers feature in future Lucas' films. This graffiti was deliberate and not accidental and was a pleasing surprise to come across. In such an area of town the locals would be very proud of their environment (though to a western eye it may seem scruffy to a local it is lived in and clean). I imagine this is now painted over and the moment lost. However, I do seem to follow in the footsteps of a number of graffiti artists here so I may come across this lettering again in the future.
 

Gold makes more sense tonally - it was the metallic look that made me think of silver first. I agree about the cleanliness (I was looking at materials) for if this was in the UK, there would be at least one piece of litter in the picture! It would be interesting if you stumble across the same artist again!
 

For those not entirely up on the nerdery of THX-1139, see this.

'though to a western eye it may seem scruffy to a local it is lived in and clean'

This is one of the things that struck me about Tokyo; something can be old and worn, but still be clean and obviously a source of pride. It's an interesting twist on aesthetics and one which I wish was more prevalent in the US.
 

Eh, 1139 is even nerdier than 1138.
 

I had no idea about THX-1138. I knew THX sound things, but that's it. On that basis I find it hard to get excited here. I mean, remove the lettering and what do we have?

Now, having read about the story, of course it gives more meaning. So, pretty effective, but makes what I'd call unusual assumptions about the cultural background of the viewer.
 

but makes what I'd call unusual assumptions about the cultural background of the viewer

I'd go further and suggest that this is tripping over into being conceptual art. If you don't get the mind games then you don't get the picture. Without the mind games this shot is too loose (odd clippings, awkward angles).

Nothing wrong with conceptual art, of course, but this becomes a poor fit with your other recent shots. And the visual content isn't as strong as the Elmo series (which equally made strong assumptions about the culture of the viewer).
 

I have been viewing this without trying to make the connection to the what the graffiti may be about. The small printed sign on the door with 'SP Alarm', could become an interesting sub-text with regard to the graffiti.
 

I didn't get the THX-1138 thing either, sorry to say, though I found Matt's link helpful there. I do like the three step levels and their textures, but without knowing about the significance of the graffiti, it otherwise isn't doing a lot for me.
 

Some interesting observations from members above. First off, I think that it could stand alone without the graffiti (which in itself is a fascinating sub-text to the urban landscape).

Next, I was reading an article about the B-movies of the '50s in the UK: black and white add-ons to the main feature and came across an observation that I think is as relevant to photos as it is to films. Here is an extract:

"Pictures at the bottom of the bill offered diversions that were substantially different from the movies they supported. They were free to deal with subjects beneath the dignity or the notice of expensive films - and to show us a picture of this country that now seems more shabbily accurate that the glossed-up world you're sold in contemporaneous A-films.

Observe, say, 1950s Britain through its top-of-the-bill films and it emerges as a land populated by pipe-smoking, twentysomething men who drive vintage Bentleys, usually with Muriel Pavlow in the back. Explore it from the bottom of the bill and you'll encounter something different: tracts of featureless industrial estates, a world in which Wolseley police cars clatter under railway bridges in Croydon and mid-price actors occupy frowsty suburban drags. It is threadbare, unspectacular territory, where compromised people spend their time committing adultery and double-crossing each other, often while drinking pre-mixed American cocktails."

I'm not sure about the adultery or cocktails (photographically speaking that is) but get the idea?!! I do remember some B-movies too!
 

The George Lucas link to the graffiti makes it more interesting (if you have access to Google) but I find the juxtaposition of the hand written graffiti with the straight lines of the tiles and architecture enjoyable.
 

Thanks for the interesting comments. Over the last ten years I've been in Japan graffiti has certainly become more prevalent here. A lot of it is an eyesore some are gems others just act as calling cards. 'EKYS' and 'BNE' are two of the most common calling cards I see around. Of the gems, I previously posted one with an interesting use of the 'f' word. I'm putting together a small series of these. Trying to make them a little more interesting than a recording of the art is proving a little difficult though.