Tokyo Times

Photographs from a small group of islands

Photography

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Typhoon Roke uprooted trees

When Typhoon Roke — or plain old No. 15 as it’s also known — indifferently passed through Tokyo yesterday, there was no denying it brought some wet and especially windy conditions. And yet despite the howling and the horizontal rain, it was hard to appreciate just how strong a force it was. Or at least it was from the comforting shelter of an apartment complex.

However, having seen the staggering amount of debris scattered over the streets this morning, it’s clear that the winds Roke brought were very strong indeed. So powerful in fact that trees were uprooted all over the capital.

Typhoon Roke in Tokyo

And old men, much to their dismay, were even forced to curtail their constitutional bike ride.

Typhoon Roke in Tokyo

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The loveliest of lovely old ladies

Japan is already a nation of old people, really old in many cases, as the number of centenarians is set to hit a record high of over 47,000 this year. A rapid greying of the country that will not only change Japanese society as a whole, but have a hugely detrimental effect on the economy. And yet if all the nation’s old people are even half as lovely as this elderly lady,

lovely Japanese lady

then whatever happens, it’ll still be an equally lovely place to live.

lovely Japanese lady

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Sights and sounds from Tokyo’s underground music scene

In Tokyo it’s always possible to see huge pop stars playing in equally massive surroundings, or well known artists doing good-sized gigs — all of whom are here to promote material that can be bought on iTunes, or found on a torrent site for free.

Yet equally thriving, albeit on a far smaller scale, is the city’s underground scene. It’s just hard to know it’s there that’s all, and even if you do, it’s not always easy to find out about venues and events.

Nights out like this one — held in a nondescript building that in normal circumstances would have been passed by unnoticed.

Tokyo underground music scene

But three floors down, in a space that’s primarily a workshop, it was a world that shifted from distorted beats by a DJ.

Tokyo underground music scene

To some almost excruciating sounds from a far more appealing piece of kit.

Tokyo underground music scene

Plus tunes hammered out on an oil drum.

Tokyo underground music scene

Or even more brutally forced from an angle grinder.

Tokyo underground music scene

Along with other performers whose output was in many ways as disturbing as their appearance.

Tokyo underground music scene

Tokyo underground (mp3)

Tokyo underground music scene

And yet it was all capped off with a semi-conventional ‘group’ that, considering what had gone before them, could almost have been described as pop.

Tokyo underground music scene

(A.E.S)

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The world’s saddest little teddy bear?

Okay, the world’s saddest may be pushing things a little bit; after all, this fella does have a home of sorts, and it’s not as though there’s stuffing spilling out of him. But, exposed to the elements, and clearly unloved, he’s a sorry sight to say the least.

The only possible blessing being that he can at least share the misery with his equally morose pal, Mr Turtle.

a sad Japanese teddy bear

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Gardening, Tokyo style

Tokyo isn’t overly blessed with greenery, let alone gardens, so those who are keen to have one of the latter often have to make do with whatever meagre amount of land they (may) have available.

Even then, however, it’s not plain sailing. Far from it in fact. As not only is it difficult to find plants that will grow in quite dark and cramped conditions, but maintaining those that actually do thrive can sometimes prove even more problematic.

Tokyo gardening