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Dec 29 2011 52 Comments

A few favourite photographs from 2011

In the last year I’ve taken an awful lot of photographs, and going back over the ones I’ve posted on Tokyo Times reminds me of the places and people I would have possibly forgotten. So here, as is customary at this time of year, is a round-up of my personal favourites. Some simply because of the image, others due to the moment (and memory) they capture.

They are in chronological order, and should you wish to, clicking on any photograph will take you to the original post.

All the very best for 2012!

Shinjuku alley

Yasukuni nationalists

scary Japanese boy

sunbathing Japanese salaryman

sad Japanese dog

Cherry blossom season

Japanese kimono

Japanese old ladies

Japanese bonsai master

shaved ice

Japanese double bass player

lovely old Japanese lady

Sugamo

Kesennuma after the tsunami

Kabukicho hostess

Tokyo coffee shop

Japanese fall colors

Categorized: Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. sixmats says

    12/29/2011 at 4:43 pm

    You have a nice set here. I like the Yasukuni one the best. The snow and the black and white combined with the soldiers is great.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/29/2011 at 6:34 pm

      Cheers! Yeah, that one and the Kabukicho hostess are my favourites. Seeing all those nationalists in uniform was pretty incredible, but the snow really made the difference.

      Reply
    • Ed says

      12/30/2011 at 5:46 am

      I am with you on this, sixmats.

      Reply
  2. [Gm] says

    12/29/2011 at 6:36 pm

    Great set, Lee… 2011 seems like a great year. Looking forward to an even better year of 2012 :D…

    *my personal favorite will have to wait until 31st of Dec :D… Cheers!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/29/2011 at 7:42 pm

      Thanks! Hopefully 2012 will throw up some interesting situations.

      Reply
  3. ameiji says

    12/29/2011 at 6:42 pm

    Happy New Year!
    looking forward to see more stories, wabi-sabi moments and awesome characters in 2012!
    Best wishes, Lee! ( ̄▽ ̄)/

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/29/2011 at 7:44 pm

      Thanks, and all the very best to you!

      Reply
  4. Oliver says

    12/29/2011 at 6:52 pm

    Great job, a kimono-clad commute is my best.
    Thanks for this awesome set.
    Oli.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/29/2011 at 7:45 pm

      Cheers Oliver. She’s quite a character, isn’t she?

      Reply
  5. Lucy Appleby says

    12/29/2011 at 7:09 pm

    Loved your photographs – double-bass in park was my favourite. Lived in Tokyo for 4 years many years ago, and these remind me of the quirky charm I miss.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/29/2011 at 7:46 pm

      Thanks Lucy. Yes, you never really know what’s round the next corner (or tree), do you?

      Reply
  6. Ken C says

    12/29/2011 at 8:37 pm

    Thanks for all the photos Lee. They give me my regular fix of Japanese life between actual visits.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/29/2011 at 11:55 pm

      Not at all Ken. Happy to hear you like them.

      Reply
  7. Teresa says

    12/29/2011 at 9:43 pm

    Great photos Lee. Thank you for bringing Japan to me 🙂

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/29/2011 at 11:56 pm

      Cheers Teresa, and you are more than welcome.

      Reply
  8. winnie says

    12/29/2011 at 10:25 pm

    I love all your pictures!! 🙂 The loveliest old lady is my favourite.
    Thank you for all the beautiful pictures
    Your pictures and wordings have given me lot of knowledges too.
    Happy New Year!!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/29/2011 at 11:56 pm

      Happy to hear it Winnie. All the very best to you too!

      Reply
  9. der says

    12/29/2011 at 10:58 pm

    Thanks for sharing all these incredible photos, and for free! (Which I hope you will continue to do, even though I think that you should well be able to sell pictures like these to quality photo journalism mags.)

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/29/2011 at 11:57 pm

      That’s very kind of you to say Der. Very kind indeed.

      Reply
  10. Don says

    12/29/2011 at 11:40 pm

    Great selection, thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/29/2011 at 11:57 pm

      Cheers Don. My pleasure.

      Reply
  11. Norbert Woehnl says

    12/30/2011 at 2:45 am

    Great wrap-up for 2011, Lee, I remember having seen many of those throughout the year, along with your equally enjoyable writings. I hadn’t seen the one with the uniformed guys in the snow yet, which instantly strikes me as a brilliant catch.
    All the best to you and yours for 2012!

    P.S. I tried a ‘Lee-style’ piece in one of my recent posts, and my mediocre result made me appreciate what you do even more :o)

    Reply
    • Lee says

      1/2/2012 at 5:52 pm

      Thanks so much Norbert. Such praise from you is very flattering indeed. Not to mention encouraging.

      All the best to you too. I hope 2012 turns out to be a belter!

      Reply
  12. robashito says

    12/30/2011 at 6:18 am

    As always, THANK YOU. Keep snappin’ because you have a great eye and you bring out the beauty of Japan.

    Cheers.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/30/2011 at 9:54 am

      Thanks a lot!

      Reply
  13. theooo says

    12/30/2011 at 1:19 pm

    The photos are amazing and beautiful! Thank you :o)

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/30/2011 at 5:05 pm

      Cheers!

      Reply
  14. F. says

    12/30/2011 at 6:48 pm

    great photos, I remembered them all – my favourite would be the b/w hostess girl for its rawness

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/30/2011 at 10:40 pm

      Thanks. That’s a big favorite of mine for the very same reason. Not a nice side of Tokyo, but a far from uncommon one…

      Reply
  15. willy says

    12/30/2011 at 8:14 pm

    Thanks Lee as always..
    I have enjoyed your photos and exchanges for a couple of years now it seems, but especially this year, with all its impact and uncertainty, you have done well as a Netizen. sensitive.. entertaining… informative…
    have a great 2012!
    Willy

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/30/2011 at 10:44 pm

      Thank you very much Willy. That’s very kind of you.

      I enjoy doing it, so to know somebody else also gets pleasure from the site makes it all the more worthwhile.

      Cheers!

      Reply
  16. Steve says

    12/30/2011 at 11:23 pm

    Nice retrospective! You’ve got some amazing shots here. I completely missed the second picture in the snow. That is one epic shot.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/31/2011 at 11:24 am

      Thanks Steve!

      Reply
  17. Zoglog says

    12/31/2011 at 12:32 am

    Nice photos, gonna agree with the above that the nationalists photo was a winner

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/31/2011 at 11:26 am

      It was one of those rare moments. Right place. Right time. Right weather. Just a pity they don’t come along more often…

      Reply
  18. Tyler says

    12/31/2011 at 1:50 am

    Another great year of photos from you Lee, keep up the good work. I am looking forwarding to seeing your page daily in 2012.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/31/2011 at 11:29 am

      Cheers Tyler. It was a year like no other that’s for sure. Hopefully 2012 will bring more photos but less drama.

      Reply
  19. Matt says

    12/31/2011 at 9:34 am

    Thanks for all the great photos and words over the year. I’m looking forward to the next years worth. Happy New Year to you and your family.

    Matt

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/31/2011 at 11:30 am

      Thanks a lot Matt. And all the very best to you too!

      Reply
  20. misiltan says

    12/31/2011 at 8:33 pm

    Happy new year all you guys :)))

    Reply
    • misiltan says

      12/31/2011 at 8:36 pm

      Checking your photos every day and having fun. thank you Lee…

      Reply
      • Lee says

        12/31/2011 at 9:56 pm

        Thanks, happy to hear it!

        Reply
  21. Anonymous UK says

    1/1/2012 at 11:33 am

    Can you do a post about the photography equipment that you use?

    Reply
    • Lee says

      1/2/2012 at 11:38 am

      I don’t fancy doing a full post on it, but I’m happy to tell you here.

      For years I’ve used a Nikon D300 along with several lenses. The ones I’ve stuck with being the Nikkor 85mm f/1.4, 35mm f/2, 80-200mm f/2.8 and 50mm f/1.4. Plus a few months ago I got a Leica M8 along with a Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2 Biogon. A set up I’m pretty happy with.

      Hope that helps.

      Reply
  22. jonhohx says

    1/2/2012 at 8:53 am

    no.2 and no.14. awesome. have a great new year. I look forward to seeing more.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      1/2/2012 at 11:38 am

      Thanks, you too!

      Reply
  23. Lyra says

    1/2/2012 at 1:18 pm

    My favourite is the “two old ladies”. The one with a blue hat in particular reminds me of my aunt. She went through a lot in her life like her parents’ breakup, having to support younger siblings including my mother by becoming a geisha during the wartime and becoming a mistress of a rich patron whom she eventually married and had two daughters. She kept smoking and always held a positive outlook (if sometimes unrealistically romantic) and this “in your face” attitude. She died 30 years ago from a respiratory illness at the age of 86. I admire her, immensely now.

    Thank you, Lee, for that precious picture.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      1/2/2012 at 6:01 pm

      Not at all Lyra. Thank for the story about your aunt. To hear that one of my pictures brought back memories of her is wonderful. Makes it all worthwhile.

      Reply
  24. Josie says

    1/3/2012 at 2:44 am

    Happy New Year! I look forward to seeing more of your beautiful photos.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      1/3/2012 at 10:20 am

      Thanks Josie. Best wishes to you too!

      Reply
  25. Bella says

    1/3/2012 at 9:47 am

    These are all so lovely, it’s so difficult to pick a favorite. If forced to do so, however, I think I’d choose the one with the French bulldog. Precious! I’m looking forward to see what you capture in 2012! Happy New Year!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      1/3/2012 at 10:22 am

      Thanks Bella. He was a lovely little fella. So patient too.

      Reply

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