Beyond the Spray: The Hidden Meaning Behind Karakura Sprays
By: Sky H.E. Volante
1/31/24
Karakura - We all know how the streets of this town is, from the walls of the buildings to the train stations, have always served as a canvas for gangs to promote themselves through graffiti and sprays. But what drives them to do so, beyond showcasing their gang affiliations or expressing their art?
Over the past few weeks, I've closely observed the ever-changing sprays from different places, noting recurring patterns among the familiar gangs and occasional appearances of random tags. I also managed to engage in a sit-down conversation with one of the many gang members in this town to uncover the motivations behind their graffiti.
Over the past few weeks, I've closely observed the ever-changing sprays from different places, noting recurring patterns among the familiar gangs and occasional appearances of random tags. I also managed to engage in a sit-down conversation with one of the many gang members in this town to uncover the motivations behind their graffiti.
[!] A small static would be heard before the audio recording started…? [!]
Sky: “...Why do you exactly do sprays? Like, what’s the reason?”
???: The voice was muffled, distorted too, taking a moment for them to reply, “To promote the Clan, it’s simple as that.”
Sky: "Interesting then... And what does promoting the Clan involve? Is it just about marking territory, or does it serve a deeper purpose?"
???: "It's a bit of both, ya know? But mostly it’s just to show our presence and how it’s coming back. Leaving our mark on the town, making sure people know we're here, making a statement."
Sky: A small pause on her end, her voice feigning confusion, "So, it's not just about the visual aspect-"
???: "Exactly. It's a warning to others, a reminder that we're back. But it's not always about violence- sometimes, it's about expressing ourselves, our identity."
Sky: "That makes sense, you want to just spread the word I suppose.” - “How do you decide what to spray, though? Is there a specific meaning behind the symbols or colors you choose?"
???: "Oh fucking definitely. Everything has a meaning to what we spray! The colors, the symbol, it's all coded [REDACTED].” a small harsh shush would be heard? As well as a cough… How odd. “- T-the flower, the golden flower says what we exactly are. Though, we do tend to give it a personal touch, something that represents us. It's like telling a story with each spray."
Sky: "So a hidden message then, especially that ‘flower’. How do people outside the Clan decipher these messages then? Surely not everyone knows what it means?" Towards the end, her voice sounded smug, amused.
???: "Obviously not everyone would know [REDACTED]. Some stuff is for us, you know, our own code. But there are also things everyone understands. Like the colors or symbols, they might not know who we are, but they know damn well we're here. It becomes clearer if you've been around long enough."
[!] The audio ended there, abruptly. [!]
???: The voice was muffled, distorted too, taking a moment for them to reply, “To promote the Clan, it’s simple as that.”
Sky: "Interesting then... And what does promoting the Clan involve? Is it just about marking territory, or does it serve a deeper purpose?"
???: "It's a bit of both, ya know? But mostly it’s just to show our presence and how it’s coming back. Leaving our mark on the town, making sure people know we're here, making a statement."
Sky: A small pause on her end, her voice feigning confusion, "So, it's not just about the visual aspect-"
???: "Exactly. It's a warning to others, a reminder that we're back. But it's not always about violence- sometimes, it's about expressing ourselves, our identity."
Sky: "That makes sense, you want to just spread the word I suppose.” - “How do you decide what to spray, though? Is there a specific meaning behind the symbols or colors you choose?"
???: "Oh fucking definitely. Everything has a meaning to what we spray! The colors, the symbol, it's all coded [REDACTED].” a small harsh shush would be heard? As well as a cough… How odd. “- T-the flower, the golden flower says what we exactly are. Though, we do tend to give it a personal touch, something that represents us. It's like telling a story with each spray."
Sky: "So a hidden message then, especially that ‘flower’. How do people outside the Clan decipher these messages then? Surely not everyone knows what it means?" Towards the end, her voice sounded smug, amused.
???: "Obviously not everyone would know [REDACTED]. Some stuff is for us, you know, our own code. But there are also things everyone understands. Like the colors or symbols, they might not know who we are, but they know damn well we're here. It becomes clearer if you've been around long enough."
[!] The audio ended there, abruptly. [!]
Here are all the sprays that I’ve noticed throughout the weeks of observing, and there are obvious recurring patterns throughout it, namely the gangs. From the symbol of the golden flowers to the ‘Blue Boys’ to the one named ‘Altieri’, many people have spread their names besides sharing their artworks.
Where the streets are a canvas for gang sprays, it becomes clear that they serve a dual purpose of marking territory and promoting every gang. The symbols and colors, the words, carry hidden messages throughout it. But despite this, the mystery of these street stories is still evident, leaving us the people alike to decipher the messages behind the graffiti-covered walls.
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