Photographs from a small group of islands
Tokyo has no shortage at all of glitzy shopping centres; busy and bustling emporiums where big brands and carefully crafted elegance are commonplace. But actually, far more common are those of a less refined nature — regularly even verging on the ramshackle. Places where plenty of people still shop. Particularly for food and the like. And where those who perhaps don’t still have to pass on their way to and from those aforementioned areas.
Not long after the post-earthquake blackouts started playing havoc with Tokyo’s transportation system and businesses, there was some brief talk of a shift in working practices as well as attitude. Gone would be the likes of unnecessary overtime, plus, perhaps more realistically, the system of set holidays which sees the whole nation supposedly relax by congregating en masse on a myriad of motorways. And instead, sensible working hours along with staggered time off would see people working less, but at the same time, more efficiently. A move that as well as increasing workers quality of life, would also conserve electricity.
Not much more than a month later, however, such moves seem moot. The postponement of power cuts, and the gradual return of something not far from normal, appear to have quickly put paid to any possible changes.
Changes that could have improved peoples lives in so many ways; even at the very simple level of sights like this on a weekday rather than exclusively at the weekend. Something that would almost certainly make the fella in the photograph happy, along with anybody fortunate enough to see him.
They definitely don’t have the same fame and following as those in Shibuya and Harajuku, but Ueno’s old-fashioned shops do have more character. And without a doubt more characters.
Like this old fella for example. A man who may well have had to hire somebody younger to help out, but it’s still hard to see him ever leaving — at least while he has the legs for it.
A way of life which undoubtedly works for him, and in many ways, Ueno as well.
A ride. A read. And total relaxation.
A good few years ago, I played a good few rounds of golf here — some of them on absolutely beautiful courses too. And, it has to be said that waywardly whacking a ball round meticulously maintained holes, with mountains in the background and caddy-san careering about in a cart with everyone’s clubs, really was a treat.
However, the trouble is, actually getting to that hitting a ball stage can be a real hassle. For starters, there’s finding a course that’s affordable in the first place. Then harder still is trying to find a vacant time slot. Plus, even if one is eventually fortunate enough to get a date sometime in the not too distant future, it’ll still be an incredibly early and random tee-off time: 7:46 maybe, or a slightly luckier 8:11. A time that must, under all circumstances, be adhered to. The prospect of missing it, even by a minute, apparently jeopardising the whole fabric of time. Either that or a severe telling off from caddy-san. The latter of which, without a doubt, is the more worrying.
All of which, needless to say, takes some of the shine off going, making it nowhere near as relaxing as it should be.
Totally unlike the time this fella in Kawasaki is enjoying. Yes, there are no holes. Plus the backdrop is far from beautiful. But he has space. All the time he could ever wish for. And the biggest water hazard in the whole wide world.
