It was unusual to go to an art gallery in the Shibuya Welfare Office.
In the past few years, the Governor of Tokyo, Shintaro Ishihara co-author of The Japan That Can Say No, has started a project to create 100 art galleries in government offices.
In Japan art galleries are often self supporting, so having a free space creates a viable economic resource. Artists pay for their own PR and split the revenue from art sales.
Outside Japan most art galleries are either supported by wealthy people, tourists or a stash of very popular and abundant pieces of art.