Why Japan Hates Their Most Famous Artist, Takashi Murakami

Carlos is joined by famed Japanese artist, Takashi Murakami, known for his brightly colored, clip art flowers. Murakami opens up about his partnerships from Louis Vuitton to Kanye, and how he blends consumerism and hip hop. Despite being one of their most recognized artists, Murakami reveals that Japan abhors his inability to keep a secret … and proceeds to spill the beans on his country's wild sex tradition. Don’t miss one of the most unique episodes to date.
To listen to the full, unedited conversation between Carlos and #TakashiMurakami, subscribe to the podcast version of the show here: podcasts.iheartradio.com/s_34Zjdh
CHAPTERS
0:40 Meet Takashi Murakami
3:33 Takashi Murakami Talks About His Breakthrough Collaborations
7:12 Limited Edition: There's Only One Takashi Murakami
8:38 Takashi Murakami on The Art of Business
10:27: Takashi Murakami on The Art of Sex
12:38: Takashi Murakami on The Art of Love
14:15 Takashi Murakami Says Trump is a Loser Brand
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Welcome to the Carlos Watson Show: a new breed of talk show where we're having meaningful conversations with the game-changers and change-makers who are ahead of their time, and worthy of yours. Emmy-winning journalist Carlos Watson, co-founder and CEO of OZY, has earned praise for his ability to persuade high-profile guests to open up on a wide range of topics on camera - interviewing everyone from presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush to Jameela Jamil, Heidi Klum and Bill Gates. Now he's bringing a hand-selected set of interviewees to you every day on KZbin for the #CarlosWatsonShow.
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[@actualtrash2546]

Nobody in Japan hates him lol. Right now his art is displayed in the Mori art museum, the most famous modern art museum in the middle of Tokyo. He has a huge amount of respect here. A city called Nakano where his studio is located is basically covered in flowers and it’s quite lovely.

[@333dae]

yeah i think hate isn't the right word, just relatively less popular locally relative to his international career

[@madiserket2]

they really just used hate so people would click on the video. "Why Japan mildly dislikes takashi murakami compared to other artists" doesnt roll off the tongue as easily

[@kaydee1485]

@@madiserket2 but if you watched the video, you'd realise that Takashi said it himself multiple times.

[@hyvnglvrd]

@@kaydee1485 facts he just said on IG right now that he is generally despised by Japanese people lol

[@Lord_Farquad]

They’re mistaking him for Takashi 69 😂

[@AngryDemonBowser]

this is the most obnoxious high budget interview i have ever seen.

[@pooja350]

Way wayyy to much editing

[@IllDawgable]

thank you

[@lesyeuxdedecay]

speaking facts, the interviewer is totally clueless, no respect and the obnoxious music and editing is fucking unbearable

[@asumacm9330]

I am Japanese and I do not hate him. I am so happy he is so colorful! And is Japanese! My favorite artist is Miro and his art is colorful!

[@SynthApprentice]

はじめまして！

[@RayNLA]

@@johnwayne2103 Google is definitely your friend

[@kayjm1660]

@Drew Taylor nope, not true at all.... greed is frowned upon in Japanese society, yes, but is not inherently associated with wealth unless it gets in the way of family, cultural, communal, social life etc (which are far more important to us than wealth). So when one only pursues and obsesses over wealth at the expense of family or community, that is when it turns to greed. That said, individualism is praised here. I think this title of this video is very misleading -- perhaps it pertains to some of the elder traditionalists, but certainly not the majority. we study him in artistry. he is seen as an idol to an extent!

[@alexrivas426]

@@SynthApprentice can someone translate this?

[@qiaowang7147]

I'm surprised He remembered Kanye West's mom's name. She must've left and impression on Murakami or that he has a good memory for names.

[@luker6854]

Murakami has worked closely with Kanye for more than a decade now and Kanye has always accredited his mother for making his success possible.

[@maad1670]

RIP Donda West.

[@madiserket2]

most people who met donda said she was an amazing person.

[@kittykittypusspusswhompwho9644]

@@madiserket2 Yeah BYEEEEEEEEE

[@TIENxSHINHAN]

"Before Trump, US was the strongest company-- country" Nah you were right the first time

[@humphrey6630]

They rolled the same transition so many times...

[@comicgeniousfan]

IM ROLLING he said Hayao Miyazaki has weird sexuality

[@araxa8]

i know what did he mean by that

[@SamChaneyProductions]

It's because Hayao Miyazaki is horny for planes

[@kekbin1697]

I mean he draw little girls

[@ReziKureizi]

Takashi : im not creative people Billie and Me : *pfft* what are you talkin abt mate? 3:24

[@UmbraIzas]

Females loving yaoi aint a secret tbh. If you're into anime, it ain't much of a secret. I think its just it breaks the stereotype of the quiet studious Japanese girl.

[@ngl1553]

Nooo. Incorrect there are waaay too many female anime lovers that hate yaoii including me and I've been an anime fan for almost 13 years now.

[@irisdisciple]

@@ngl1553 why hate yaoi? cringe

[@ngl1553]

@@irisdisciple taste and preference. That's all.

[@UmbraIzas]

@@ngl1553 I think I meant to say in the context of japanese culture? Especially back before the big anime boom of the 2010's. A lot of yaoi culture was kept very hush hush just due to Japanese's homophobic and conservative societal norms. A lot of Japanese yaoi lovers kept it as a secret despite it being a major market for them.

[@cluhfairy3300]

@@ngl1553 from what i’ve seen, Fujoshis commonly aren’t as open towards liking bl as the regular degular weebs. So i can see why u think there aren’t a lot. If you actively search for them, you will absolutely find them. But just cuz you’ve liked anime for a long time doesn’t mean u kno it all. I believe fujoshi’s also tend to stick towards the mangas and drama cds for bl content, to which have nothing to do with anime... not that i would know.....😅

[@revaholic]

I never heard of Carlos Watson but he's a good interviewer. He seems actually interested unlike a lot of late night people. Of course Murakami is interesting too.

[@corgansow7176]

He looked like black Jerry Seinfeld

[@agdragonstanvip8894]

He keep saying he is not "creative"😄 I actually didn't know about him till last year n how famous he is. I knew abt him cuz one of fav Artists (Gdragon) well acquainted with him n first time I saw the flower Art in his pic.

[@therealchoiboy]

goddamn that $70m art collections puts all rappers chains combined to shame

[@iLLWiLL173]

Those picture breaks between every question or segment was very annoying...this video was just full of fluff that didn't need to be there... nevertheless takashi is always an interesting dude to watch and listen to👌

[@hormiguitasenmicara]

its really interesting how he's hated in japan, just like yayoi kusama was. at some point, public opinion of yayoi kusama changed in japan and she's now a celebrated artist.

[@serbanindigo689]

I think it has to do with the fact that japanese people have a hard time adapting to things that are different from the norm. Everything that is different takes so much time to be assimilated and considered "ok" or "normal" there. Highly traditionalistic people with the greatest homogeneity in the world. Not easy to break the boundaries. But i feel like over the past 2 decades things have started to change at an accelerated rate, which seems to bring in fresh air.

[@mokuseinoosa]

He's not really hated here in Japan. I'm Japanese and i've known him since he designed the cover art of Kanye's "Graduation", but i think 90% of the Japanese have not even heard of his name.

[@hormiguitasenmicara]

@@mokuseinoosa thats really interesting, perhaps he was referring to japanese art critics? i imagine he got a lot of backlash for his anime statues.

[@EriAikawadiary]

I worked at KaiKaiKiki as one of his painting staff. I quit after 2 months. We also had an intern who quit after 2 days of working.

[@justinroyol2090]

may i ask why you quit?

[@kaiwilliamson7835]

+1, why did you quit??

[@brib6046]

Was the work overly demanding? And were you treated with respect?

[@gloomsdoom649]

How come?

[@hisokasmain]

How are you gonna drop that and not elaborate 😭😭

[@Jenovard]

By coincidence I worked with 2 of his former assistants on a video shoot in Tokyo a few weeks ago. Their description was not flattering. He told one of them to kill themselves in front of a room full of people because he showed up late to a meeting and they listed off a litany of other abusive behaviors like calling at all hours of the night to rant about this or that. Maybe that’s why he’s hated. I mean artists are often complicated people but I don’t think their art is more important than their obligation to be decent humans.

[@krissydiggs]

Yikes not a good look. I live in Kanazawa and lots of people seem to like him quite a bit. As far as celebrity goes he seems popular... he seems perhaps a bit unhinged as far as personality goes, but I almost expect that from unchecked ego artists. Haha

[@Username-ky3lr]

That is horrible, I was never a fan of his works, but now I don't like him at all! Telling somebody to do bad things to themselves or others is disgusting!

[@oxAkatsubakixo]

Telling someone to go just die, is that quite common in Japan? It’s not the first time I’ve heard such a thing. I’m by no means supporting it, it’s disgusting and cruel how someone can tell other people words like that. But perhaps, it’s the culture that supporting this behavior.

[@-KMA-]

Makes sense as to why there’s a suicide forest.

[@peaceablekingdom3535]

The most interesting interview I've ever seen. Great artist and you are a great interviewer with the most relevant and interesting questions.

[@dylanciaga5179]

he so funny 💀

[@FerdinandZebua]

I feel like there are some hidden parts, aspects, buried under or lost in translation...

[@-KMA-]

Which may explain the reason Japanese “hate” him

[@splabbity]

Just looking at the guy makes me feel happy.

[@henokmengsteab2177]

PLEASEEE CHILL WITH THE MUSIC PLEAS CHILL

[@ChrisfromDevelopment]

I'm an even bigger fan of Takashipom, now. Thank you for the interview.

[@abenpongen8475]

Loved it. Subscribed because I like Murakami... Stayed because the interviewer actually seems invested and interested. Good job. 💕

[@rolandbjr.1761]

He's cool and talented but most artist doesn't know how to handle their finances and ended up in bankruptcy. An artist can't think as a businessman and I've seen businesses go down the drain solely handled by an artist. The best approach is that he should have a partner who handles the business management aspect and he handles the creative side. Hope he's on the road to recovery from bankruptcy and watch what he spends on.

[@crionidel]

If you are interested he made a igtv series over at his Instagram going deep on why and how he almost fell into bankruptcy and how he's doing now.

[@zero-gj4ql]

@@crionidel has he recovered now if i may ask?

[@crionidel]

@@zero-gj4ql as he says in the doc it's basically a constant fear of gettin knee dip for a lot of whatever he makes he has to reinvest in bigger more complex projects. So rn he's out of backruptcy but there is always a risk.

[@skeezix8156]

Artists do know what it takes to handle the business side but the art world has cultivated an environment that totally conflicts with profiteering. It really needs to change, there’s nothing wrong with earning from your talent. The problem then becomes the vultures who also want to profit….family, lawyers, corporations. You just have to learn to tell them all to F off

[@Robersora]

Good interview, great channel! Maybe just a little too ADHD in the editing department for my tastes - but I get it... brand recognition and stuff.

[@celinadebbarman9078]

3:25 she be like "wut? you kidding me?"

[@RobinRichieProductions]

I have no idea how this wound up in my feed... However, I am intrigued and can't log off.

[@lilpretzel5629]

Same

[@mialiu836]

I loved this video!!

[@airmikeliu]

Great interview! Superb.

[@techshark7477]

Thanks for sharing this! 👌👌😎 😎

[@cleof1503]

what a horrible click bait video. No one hates him, his work is displayed everywhere in Japan. What a horrible narrative

[@mcyork1927]

He has great sense of humor. Something we all should copy @ a time of this stressful period we have.

[@nicolasadornetto5428]

man is a legend, he inspires me

[@MC-xj4rk]

Omg he's so sweet no wonder he's so famous!! Winning personality to the maxx. Haha Japan needs to calm down and respect Takashi and that it's okay for their art to be super big over here in the states.

[@Gxblaster]

Nice interview

[@420dizkhalifa]

Takashi Murakami: I met George Lucas in and went to Skywalker Ranch. Closed caption: I met George Lucas and went to Skywalker Lunch.

[@phillipkoether6087]

My new favorite thing. Great work Carlos

[@minnesotaclay]

Legend!

[@jasonelias160]

Bomb video🔥🔥🔥

[@Mandalore.The.Hero7]

The only Takashi we know is Takashi Murakami 💯 🇯🇵

[@user-mh6ju3pg8c]

Takashi from doraemon

[@slampey]

It might be different in the US, but in Japan liking yaoi/being fujoshi absolutely is usually kept a secret. Women can often be well into their 30s-40s, have a grueling office job and a family, and secretly be fujoshi on the internet. They attend comic markets to sell their yaoi comics and will wear masks to stay anonymous as to not get found out by their job or coworkers. Generally, being an otaku (nerd) is something they hide or even are ashamed of.

[@packman8552]

im japanese, and i dont hate him. i have not met any japanese who does not like him.

[@rikzingnidz4679]

He is awesome 🔥🔥🔥

[@Dennisskater55]

Awesome

[@ghostl337]

That's the type of people you need to look out for, there's some people who act like they're nothing to get the attention they want, then there's people with extraordinary talent who don't think they are talented because they know they can still improve, despite the level they are at.

[@chronicles_of_Anaraklai]

what are the hiyao miyazaki anime scenes in the video?

[@randompenguiness4616]

195k views with 81 likes and 9 comments... this doesn’t add up

[@jkg_1985]

they delete and limit real comments that don’t fit their narrative

[@rasputozen]

Seems like they bought a bunch of views and have accounts promoting a censorship narrative to cover it up.

[@krissydiggs]

Haha clickbait. I LIVE in japan. Nobody hates Murakami. He had an exhibition and he was pretty popular... I haven’t met a young person who doesn’t like him.... I low key envy him because people compare my art to his a lot but I only recently found his stuff. I have been working so hard to build my style and I feel pretty confident. I saw his work in person and I thought it’s kind of simple.... but hey, he’s successful ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ But now I worry I will always live in his shadow as an artist T_T

[@myleggg8425]

Krissy Diggs do better

[@wildercerrate7295]

tbh i thought hirohiko araki would be like murukami... turns out hes just a vampire

[@asylumbooks3406]

This man is the Picasso of our time

[@thatgalj57]

It rlly hurts my heart When he puts himself down like y whould he say “ me I’m not creative person” LIKE YES U ARE MTEWWW

[@franciscasfunspace3985]

Takashi is amazing

[@dormousecat3947]

He's the epitome of depthlessness. His arts wouldn't survived without the exposure of popular figures and it reeks of consumerism, something that's killing the art industry.

[@shaquilleramsay5701]

"depthlessness" ??

[@ms.m3n]

Holy shit 🤩 blown away by how much I felt relatable to what he's said.... probably bout the secret Japanese women fetish and sleeping on the floor thing? But wow - so glad he's open enough to honestly point out he's nearly bankrupt. Surprised how is that possible but I guess he doesn't want to hoard and that's good? Forces him to continue to push forward~ he has faith in himself. We want more of his awesomeness 🙌🏼✨

[@happyarewewhosmile]

Bad subs. He said Skywalker Ranch, NOT Skywalker Lunch

[@martinmorrison9878]

sweet intro

[@runchranda9430]

Meanwhile miura sensai drawing berserk

[@axel9546]

Are Japanese people hating Takashi Murakami? ...

[@make_curry_not_missiles]

Not at all. He is probably the most celebrated modern author in japan

[@axel9546]

@@make_curry_not_missiles author? He is an artist not the writer

[@make_curry_not_missiles]

@@axel9546 my mistake. I mis-read his name, sorry. But I don’t think people in Japan really hate him. Most people don’t take his art seriously though. I think people associate him to pop culture more than art.

[@jaronax]

I thought Katsushika Hokusai was the most famous one. Amongst the contemporary ones, I'd say Yayoi Kusama ?

[@AyeshaKhan-oe4tq]

Thinking about haruka murakami

[@Kaybye555]

Haruki? The writer?

[@AyeshaKhan-oe4tq]

@@Kaybye555 yes

[@chrom0xide123]

The yaoi-part was funny XD That confusion XD

[@ohmywingz]

He was actually in star wars episode 8

[@BenjiClips614]

Mom ❤️

[@danieleron4971]

doesn't the anime man have one painting from him?

[@Pseuderity]

I feel like a lot of these questions got lost in translation...

[@gingel28]

taipei🧡

[@zigaudrey]

I have a suspicion that someone is impersonating Tazkeshi Murakami. He is on the screen and his English is surprisingly good. Did he study it? I can't recognize him! His arts question us about the consummation of pop culture in Japan after war: like Manga and Anime. His statues are prime example: the Lonesome Cowboy questions the sexuality of Japanese fan or Otaku. Takeshi Murakami's arts blend low and high art, traditional and modern art.

[@kingafendikingafendi8897]

You can hate murakami he has had shown to the world that art can make money and beautified houses , he an example to others artist that art can make a living.

[@maino_Da_Loc]

Generational genius

[@kazukixivv9252]

Pretty sure I and majority of Japan don't hate it him at all they just don't like his work not everyone has the same taste.

[@lAcedUpLiss]

Too much noise in the background makes it difficult to watch. Bg music is obnoxious and I can't hear the dialogue.

[@jcwt_pdx]

I don’t hate him either. 💜💙🌹

[@clarklacuesta]

how tf are there only 36 comments here

[@catstwo743]

Taipei is the capital of Taiwan and where I live. :D

[@crystalnait455]

I came across a american Japanese youtuber channel , he made a list of what Japanese hate and it seems they do hate rich people , they think they are corrupt and selfish And thats why i think this poor guy is successful yet hated ..might be

[@galacticgoat6066]

I get him, a lot of japanese and asian women in general don't like it when their husbands succeed in the west as individuals, it's rooted in the collective culture 'an asian mans success and happiness should be my success and happiness' there's always a belief that success in the west belong to asian women, not to asian men. All in all its just jealousy and envy, nothing more. Good to see Takashi Murakami not taking the BS and blessing the world with his great art regardless of insecure people.

[@1kilobyte339]

namaste!!!

[@carol.q]

in the anime scene is quite known that many women like yaoi (gay anime stuff). i like it too btw

[@nhuja184]

2:06 ah yes the starving to successful artst Takashi *MURAKMAI*

[@kazukixivv9252]

I'm Japanese I don't like his works but I don't hate em

[@kh7497]

i'm japanese I hated it at first but now I like it I lost to him hahaha

[@lean6586]

bruh the background sound ffs

[@makatadaito1351]

As an artist.. Let him express things in the way he want / can *art's no rules*

[@micolmao6451]

Dudes a hippie lmao.

[@Ianoxen]

I don't want to sound harsh but he really is just a result of putting hype behind a name (Murakami) and an image (Rainbow Flower) and selling it. Someone who had an initial push to be famous then it snowballs into other mainstream brands and media outlets and then it chains to other people using the hype. There are people out there spending a lot for an all black hoodie with a rainbow flower on it.

[@Lynisworld]

we been know about 'Yaoi'..

[@nukesakuji]

Hate? Um, is that some clickbait?

[@stuffysquare9966]

34 comments💀💀💀

[@41NewVAWE]

I feel weird how he be like "HOW U MET KANYE ?" HE IS FKIN TAKASHI MURAKAMI ! thats HOW! like wut? Dudes a phenom and fkin beast at what he does , they supposed to meet like it d be DUMB if not , they both had somuch and have somuch influence and inspire somuch people

[@rebeccagutierrez6369]

The hacked UP twitter account brought me here.

[@Lou7rin12]

This Carlos dude is way too full of himself....

[@chinemeremudoh3732]

Why? Cos he's smart, talks intelligently and has the balls to interview some of the most interesting personalities?? I'd like to know why you think he's full of himself bro.

[@lakai958]

@@chinemeremudoh3732 i think it's because he keeps rolling the same transition of photos of himself. Like we get it.

[@AQUAMARiNEraito]

@@lakai958 but i don't think he should be blamed for that. perhaps it's the editor, or the producer who wants that😅 anyway, good interviewer imo

[@angelomariano9494]

NO COMMENT

[@user-ci7yc6wl4c]

I'm Japanese. but Japan don't hate him. because Japanese people don't know him

[@ks-ws7te]

I only know him from a Billie Eillish tee shirt. That’s how I know his work. Both people, not a fan. Funny guy though.

[@SobrietyandSolace]

'The Yaoi fanbase is a secret' Oh honey no

[@slampey]

Its not a secret that it exists, but the women in japan who participate usually keep their interest a secret

[@RayNLA]

I knew he would mention Virgil

[@HIMMBelljuvo]

Japan, wtf is wrong with you?! This man is a national treasure!

[@krissydiggs]

It’s not true. He’s popular here

[@user-rd1es1uq9u]

I feel his works are kind of cultural appropriation for Japanese otaku and otaku culture.

[@morisoba2550]

I am a native Japanese and believe that Takashi Murakami is desecrating fine art by using Manga subculture.　I hate him because he is making unfair money out of it.

[@pandamask9995]

This is not true, people in japan do not hates him