Fitness Enthusiasts Flex for a Cleaner City in Ebisu

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On September 20, the event "Graffiti-Erasing Muscles" was held in Ebisu, Tokyo. Fitness enthusiasts with impressive physiques came together to help maintain the cityscape.

*A wall of graffiti about to get cleaned. (©Sankei by Yuki Kajiyama)*

*Volunteers scrub graffiti from a wall. (©Sankei by Yuki Kajiyama)*

Fitness and Community

The event is organized by VALX, a Shibuya-based company that develops fitness brands such as protein and apparel, in collaboration with Shibuya Ward. It has been held annually since 2024.

*A participant paints a sea bream on the wall. (©Sankei by Yuki Kajiyama)*

For this second edition, participants not only removed graffiti from walls but also took a creative approach to prevent future vandalism. They painted illustrations, including images of Ebisu, one of Japan's Seven Gods of Fortune.

Watch the volunteers in action.

Muscles in Action

Around 30 muscular participants worked for two hours, sweating through the task. After finishing, they all smiled as they took commemorative photos in front of the now-clean walls.

Kotomi Yoshida from VALX, who helped organize the event, said, "It was great to put the participants' muscles to use and remove stubborn paint. We want to transform graffiti, which often has a negative image, into positive art that fits the multicultural vibe of Shibuya."