Japan’s shrinking population is well documented, but while it’s hard to appreciate such societal changes when in and around Tokyo, once away from the capital or the country’s other major hubs, the resultant decline and distinct lack of people very quickly become apparent.
Closed businesses, abandoned homes and general decay are often the norm, and the images below are an example of that. A small selection of the photographs I took during 3 days driving round a relatively small area several hours north of Tokyo.
Steve says
I’m getting real The Last of Us vibes with these. 😮
Lee says
Yeah, definite similarities, although mercifully a lot safer!
YesterdaysHero says
These photos have such an atmosphere Lee. The first and last in particular. Great works as always.
Lee says
Thank you very much. Really glad to hear it. Old TVs almost always work well, but very happy with how that first one came out.
Tobias says
Stunning images, incredible atmosphere. Brilliant work, mate!
Lee says
Thanks a lot. Really glad to hear some of that atmosphere comes through.
Paul says
The Clarion karaoke machine must be one of the last bought by the establishment. It makes the scene look really strange, as if it didn’t belong here.
As usual, my favourite is the photo with the people on it (thanks to the instant translator on my smartphone, which allowed me to understand the text written on the frame) ; it always makes me feel nostalgic for some reason, because I don’t even know them, but it gives the place a history and the charm of the past.
Thank you very much, Lee.
Lee says
Thanks a lot, and you are very welcome.
That feeling of nostalgia for a place and people you never knew is a strange one, isn’t it? A feeling that definitely adds an extra dimension to these locations.
Richard says
My favs are the red TV, the Ukiyo-e prints, and the phonograph records on the floor. It is sad, however, to see things in such decay.
Thanks!
Lee says
It is. Both sad and fascinating. I’m the same too. Always feels special to find a TV. Records a real bonus as well.
Steve says
I enjoy all your postings but I find this collection especially striking. Apparently farming remains an activity on tillable land. I wonder what happened to the group in the framed photo.
Lee says
Thank you. That’s very kind and lovely to hear.
Farming is very much still a thing in the area. Shocking to see how old so many of the farmers are though.
And yeah, we can only imagine what happened to them…
cdilla says
Each photograph give pause to consider the scenes history. The school(?) building especially evokes long gone sounds.
The jewel for me though is the green window.
Lee says
Thank you, and yes, an old school building. That empty bench is quite something, isn’t it?
I like the greenery up against that window, but old TVs I find hard to beat.
sonny says
Awesome pictures. I could really feel the desolation. Makes me remember some of the establishments I saw in Kawaguchiko last year that were closed but you could see the things inside through the display windows. I was not sure if they were just closed temporarily because it was not the season or if they were permanently closed.
Lee says
Thank you very much. Amazing really how much of Japan is like this, even fairly popular locations like Kawaguchiko. Not been there for a long time, but there certainly used to be a good few abandoned places there.