Photography

Tokyo’s Ueno district has its fair share of modern buildings and neon lights, but on the whole it has a wonderfully gritty, even grubby feel to it. A worn, somewhat frayed round the edges look that is often reflected in the people who spend time there.

But under the tracks a real hint of old Tokyo is added to the rough and ready mix. A link to the past that the shadows and yakitori smoke only add to.

Countless Japanese kids are whisked around Tokyo on seat-equipped bicycles. An efficient custom that is often quicker than using a car. Far more environmentally friendly, too.

The only problem is that many parent’s neglect to put helmets on their passengers — the possible repercussions of which don’t even bear thinking about. And yet even that practice is positively sensible compared to what this father deems acceptable.

It’s often easy to at least imagine the life led by many of the people one sees out and about in Tokyo. Their clothes, the time of day, or where they happen to be generally offering hints about their job, social status etc. Speculation that could of course be way off the mark, but quite often it’s probably not. Or at least not by too much.

But then there are others whose stories are almost impossible to speculate on — certainly not with any kind of conviction anyway. Like this man for example. A Tokyoite whose stained coat, single glove and heavy backpack are conspicuous, and yet as clues they are far from conclusive.