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Apr 27 2020 12 Comments

A Tokyo mechanic and his amazingly cluttered garage

Clutter and crap everywhere appear to be some kind of legal requisite for Japanese garages and bicycle shops, but even by the usual standards, this one is quite special as there’s now barely space to do any actual repair work.

old and cluttered Tokyo garage

Categorized: Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Stephan says

    4/27/2020 at 10:34 am

    I’d love to see that motorcycle sidecar running but access looks difficult!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      4/27/2020 at 4:24 pm

      Just a bit. Get the feeling that the car below hasn’t moved in a long long time.

      Reply
      • J. Michael says

        5/1/2020 at 6:56 pm

        Nah, I’ll bet the car runs; it’s the cleanest thing in the shop. As far as getting the scooter and sidecar down, looking at that odd collection of wood and bars (?) that make up the central floor, I’ll bet that he has to build a whole new frame for the big central pully every time every time he wants to take it for a spin.

        Reply
        • Lee says

          5/1/2020 at 9:19 pm

          I do hope you are right. Be great to see it running, and possibly even better to see him getting it out of there.

          Reply
  2. Rohan Gillett says

    4/27/2020 at 7:00 pm

    Do you know the cable show American Pickers? Surely this shop is a good reason to get a Japanese version going! Maybe I could start a new career … ?

    Reply
    • Lee says

      4/27/2020 at 8:27 pm

      No, wasn’t familiar with that programme, but just looked it up. And yeah, there’s potentially so much to pick up. In so many places too. Even in this little place there could be several more scooters behind that shutter on the right. A possible gold mine!

      Reply
  3. john says

    4/27/2020 at 7:40 pm

    Simple. It all sparks joy!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      4/27/2020 at 8:28 pm

      Very true. Just not any sparks when it comes to starting that car!

      Reply
      • john says

        4/27/2020 at 8:59 pm

        Indeed. Thanks for that chuckle :O)
        It does look more like a Showa than a runna.

        Reply
        • Lee says

          4/27/2020 at 10:30 pm

          Thanks back. Compared to your finely tuned pun, mine was like an old banger!

          Reply
  4. cdilla says

    4/28/2020 at 2:55 pm

    I love it. Such detail. Such history!
    Is his inspection pit just filled with old iron and steel? One wonders what is at the bottom.
    The best bit for me is that tint broom. Sorry, but that just ain’t gonna cut it 🙂

    Reply
    • Lee says

      4/28/2020 at 3:37 pm

      Yeah, there really is. Goodness knows how long that car has been there…

      That definitely seems to be the case. I’m going for more scooters down there. Or perhaps that’s where his big broom ended up, hence the almost absurdly small one he is now forced to use!

      Reply

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