The current recession hasn't made life easy for Tokyo's art galleries. Spending habits of collectors are now even more difficult to predict, but the fertile art scene here continues its growth spurt, and with it comes an increasing number of art fairs, including a new photography-only fair opening this weekend. Whether Tokyo can support so many fairs is an open (and frequently asked) question, but quality work will always draw buyers. Tokyo can and should be the hub for the Asian market, and as the region bounces back economically, our fair city has been providing plenty of opportunities to peruse and purchase art.
In the spring, there was Japan's largest and most influential fair is Art Fair Tokyo (AFT), which is a mixed bag of contemporary art, Western art, antiques and other traditional wares. Outside this center of gravity, many other events have taken root, bringing together gallerists, creators and collectors of nearly every predilection and income bracket.