Among the many billboards looming over Shibuya Station crossing, one of the busiest and most famous intersections in Tokyo, is one for Tower Records that features musician Shugo Tokumaru. The picture looks slightly awkward. The artist sits on a spiral staircase and clutches a guitar, positioned just to the right of the center of the frame, as if he's trying to sneak out of the shot.
He says his shyness goes beyond photo sessions and carries over into his recording process.
"I trapped myself in a dark room, with all of my windows closed," Tokumaru says. "That kind of depressing atmosphere made me want to write material that was positive, vast and expressive."