Photographs from a small group of islands
Out of the capital and heading north on a weekday morning is a very different experience from travelling on trains within Tokyo. They can be cold. Are nowhere near as regular. And seem to take an age to get anywhere.
But, a huge plus is that they are quiet. Incredibly so at times. Allowing one to observe travellers other than commuters, and wonder where they are going, as well as what they are going for.
Ginza way well be famous for its high-end brands and flagship stores, but sometimes it’s simply about being seen.
Tokyo’s Akihabara district has certainly been given a facelift over recent years, allowing it to further cement its reputation as an otaku mecca of sorts. A shift that, along with fancy new buildings, has also resulted in arguably more maid cafes than regular, run-of-the-mill ones.
But, at its heart, the area is still all about gadgets and their assorted paraphernalia, and as such, the moniker ‘Electric Town’ still holds true. A feature that continues to attract large numbers of tourists and Tokyoites alike.
However, like many parts of the capital, below the surface it’s not as high-tech, or indeed wholesome, as it may first appear.
Music snobbery means that anything other than something by the most obscure of artists can result in one’s choice of new music being subjected to condescending comments — even downright criticism if it’s seen as especially dubious.
Utterly disdainful looks from the disc itself, however, arguably takes things to a new and rather disturbing level.
An extremely large number of Tokyo commuters sit utterly expressionless on the train, their eyes — if they aren’t firmly shut — invariably fixed on a phone or game. But this lady was different. For starters she wasn’t looking down, rather up and off somewhere in the distance. And then there’s her expression, although whether it is one of vexation, or simply contemplation, it’s hard to say.
