If you're strolling along the Sumida River sometime this week and next, you may be lucky enough to catch something extremely odd: a 9m-zipper streaming through the water like it's opening up a watery winter jacket.
Yasuhiro Suzuki, the unconventional artist behind this project, first got the idea for this art installation when he was riding an airplane for the first time and looked down to see countless little ships zipping across the sea below. Suzuki is known for drawing his inspiration from everyday landscapes and ordinary objects. He decided to take this illusion a step further and build a functional zipper-shaped boat to cruise along the Sumida River.
The Sumida River was traditionally the border between the ancient provinces of Musashi and Shimousa, so the zipper ship is meant to create the image of 'splitting apart' this divide. Whatever symbolism you take away from it, it'll be a fun sight and a good photo-op.
Catch the Zip-Fastener Ship between the bridges of Azumabashi and Sakurabashi on the Sumida River, daily from 12noon to 2pm.