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Jul 26 2024 13 Comments

Japanese concrete playground telephones

Quite a few years ago I had the pleasure of finding a concrete park telephone. A push-button themed slide that I’ve also included here, as considering its rarity and lovely retro looks, how could I not?

To be honest, I didn’t think it’d be beaten, as there’s just so much to like about it. There’s also the added extra of the kids it’s designed for likely having no idea whatsoever what the reference is.

Yet beaten it might well have been by the new discovery of a rotary dial version that is both more complex and considerably more obscure for those who’ll have fun on it. Above all else though, it simply looks fabulous, especially so in an otherwise rather drab and nondescript local park.

On a very different topic, with the summer weather now in full-on heat and humidity mode, I’m going to slow Tokyo Times down for a bit, and instead of the usual Tuesday and Friday updates, I’ll instead just be posting on Fridays until August 16th. Then, from that date onwards, the usual 2 posts a week will resume.

Japanese concrete playground telephones

Japanese concrete playground telephones

Japanese concrete playground telephones

Japanese concrete playground telephones

Japanese concrete playground telephones

Japanese concrete playground telephones

Japanese concrete playground telephones

Japanese concrete playground telephones

Categorized: Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Denise says

    7/26/2024 at 10:25 am

    This is so cute. Pink too! 🙂

    Reply
    • Lee says

      7/26/2024 at 3:05 pm

      Yeah, it really is something.

      Reply
  2. Sean says

    7/26/2024 at 11:13 am

    The attention to detail on both these are totally next level. Wow!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      7/26/2024 at 3:06 pm

      Yeah, that’s very true. The rest of the parks may leave a lot to be desired, but not the phones!

      Reply
  3. Richard says

    7/26/2024 at 6:53 pm

    The rotary is great! The push button one could benefit from some cleaning/painting.

    Enjoy your relative summer respite.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      7/28/2024 at 12:09 pm

      It could, but in some ways I think I prefer it that way. Have to admit, I was slightly disappointed the rotary one was so pristine.

      Thanks a lot. It’s not going to cool down any time soon, but simply less time out in the heat is good.

      Reply
  4. cdilla says

    7/26/2024 at 8:34 pm

    What a find and on the perfect day too with the clear blue sky, strong sunshine and even a butterfly net. You have captured a moment of what must be the commonplace for the lucky local kids – not that they will, or need to, know that just now. We all have our deep memories of oft visited childhood play areas we so much took for granted.
    It’s the first day of the summer holidays here so Mrs cdilla and I were recalling how we felt at this time of year as kids. The consensus was up stupidly early and rushing out with an old pop bottle for water and a sarnie or two in a paper bag only to reluctantly return as dusk fell and the distant calls of neighbourhood parents could be heard. Happy days. Now the days are just as happy but revolve mostly around hunting the shaded seats and whether or not it’s Pimms’O’Clock yet. Have a relaxing summer.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      7/28/2024 at 12:27 pm

      Thanks a lot. When I arrived there were some shadows from the trees, but after a rest in the shade the light worked out perfectly.

      Ah, those were the days eh? Not a plan or care in the world.

      Cheers. Be nice simply limiting my time out in the heat for a bit. Some pretty intense temperatures at the moment.

      You too. Have a good one. May those seats be nice and shaded.

      Reply
  5. linda says

    7/27/2024 at 6:10 am

    Now I want you to find one that looks like a flip phone 🙂

    Reply
    • Lee says

      7/28/2024 at 12:28 pm

      Haha, it wouldn’t surprise me if there is one somewhere. Same goes for a fax machine.

      Reply
  6. scruffy says

    7/27/2024 at 8:09 am

    What a cheery telephone. I love the coiled cord.

    There’s a desert web cam in Namibia that I like to watch. It displays the temperature and some other weather information. Lately the temps in the Namibia desert have been very similar to temps displayed on the Kabukicho Shinjuku web cam.

    Stay cool, Lee.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      7/28/2024 at 12:35 pm

      Quite something, isn’t it? Especially so with the cord. Really well done.

      Thanks a lot. I shall try.

      The summers here are definitely getting more intense, but still shocking to hear they are reaching Namibia levels…

      Reply
  7. Tagomago says

    8/27/2024 at 8:58 pm

    Wow, how cute!!!

    Reply

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