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Jan 18 2013 11 Comments

Old Japan in modern Tokyo

In many ways Tokyo seems to be in a constant state of flux, and yet at the same time, no matter how much it changes, it also stays very much the same.

old Japanese shopkeeper

Categorized: Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Iwao Yamamoto says

    1/18/2013 at 9:30 am

    When I see this kind of the place where you can feel warm communicating with the older shop women, I am happy to live in the district. There’s a kind warmth to chat with them.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      1/18/2013 at 5:40 pm

      Yeah, a far cry form the impersonal and modern convenience store.

      Reply
  2. winnie says

    1/18/2013 at 1:36 pm

    Great shot!
    Truly, old Japan in modern Tokyo.
    I am also interested of the items that she sells. Where is this place?

    Reply
    • Lee says

      1/18/2013 at 5:43 pm

      Thanks!

      It was a real mishmash of stuff. Like many old shops I guess. Can’t remember where it was though. It was by a temple, but which one I haven’t got a clue. Sorry…

      Reply
  3. Willy says

    1/18/2013 at 8:46 pm

    Life goes on. Somehow with verve despite the drive towards hyperbolic convenience. The ‘nice touch’ of the forever grateful.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      1/18/2013 at 11:18 pm

      Yes, thankfully it does. For all their many benefits (or at least the main one which is surely booze), convenience stores do bring a horrible mundanity to many parts of Tokyo.

      Reply
  4. Taki says

    1/19/2013 at 8:08 am

    No cash register, right? Probably an abacus back there? Great picture.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      1/19/2013 at 10:03 am

      Thanks! I can’t say for sure, but I suspect you are absolutely spot on.

      Reply
      • Hans ter Horst says

        1/19/2013 at 3:30 pm

        I love those old shops where the use the soroban to get the total and then enter that into the cash register 🙂 The soroban is completely back for Japanese schoolkids BTW, it is the “new” miracle to teach kids maths.

        Reply
        • Lee says

          1/19/2013 at 7:17 pm

          Interesting. Didn’t know about. There’s actually a soroban school near where I live. Always seemed out of place, but it makes complete sense now.

          Reply
  5. frank stepanski says

    2/8/2013 at 10:39 am

    lover her face…….truly great.

    Reply

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