Photographs from a small group of islands
Tokyo perpetually throws up contrasts, including equally contrasting people. What is unusual, however, are said people openly conversing on the street. A situation so clearly awkward that it becomes immediately obvious why it isn’t more common.
A traditional kimono. Modern coin lockers. And a brief moment of calm amidst the confusion of Shinjuku Station.
“Chibi-chan, quick quick, a foreigner!â€
“A what? A foreigner? Let me see. Where? Where?â€
“Hurry up. There he is. Down there. Look at him.â€
“Oh yeah. Don’t see many of them round here. Isn’t he strange looking? What’s he doing?â€
“No idea. But up to no good I reckon. Keep your eyes on him.â€
“I will, I will.â€
In many ways things have changed, but for older generations of Japanese, the lives of men and women are/were very different — both in regards roles and responsibilities. A gap that sometimes isn’t all that obvious, but then at other times seems like an almost insurmountable gulf.
Land is not only expensive in Tokyo, but also scarce, so invariably every single plot is used as much as is humanly possible. And that also means used no matter how solid said land is, or even what architectural problems it may present.
