There are lots of photos on these pages documenting the changes Tokyo is going through, but only a single example from Osaka. It is though a very poignant one. The end of a truly wonderful old coffee shop.
Sadly that doesn’t mean old Osaka isn’t gradually disappearing, because it is — I just don’t get to revisit the same places as regularly as I do in Tokyo. That said, this particular scene caught my eye on a recent-ish walk there. It was the lady I recognised first. Stood in exactly the same spot as when I last saw her. Only this time, the old stationary shop on the corner wasn’t there anymore. The space it once occupied already being readied for its modern replacement.
On this occasion, however, there was still continuity, with the presence of both the woman and her fruit, vegetable and pickle selling near neighbour. The first three photos being before, and the latter three now. A now that will hopefully persist well into the future.
Denise says
Oh my this is both beautiful and heartbreaking. 😮 Thank you for saving these moments.
Lee says
Thanks a lot and you are very welcome. It was definitely very poignant seeing her standing there. Same spot but different…
cdilla says
Sad to see the decline and loss but happy memories for Mrs cdilla and I. I have an all but identical iphone photo of the grocery guy. We must have been standing shoulder to shoulder. No wonder the poor guy looks puzzled 🙂 It popped up a couple of days ago on my endless backdrop slideshow of ten years of visits to Japan, and as always, the ones taken during out photowalk tours with you are the best and most interesting by far.
Lee says
That’s funny we have the same photo. Very glad he is still there.
Quite the coincidence it popped up just the other day. And thank you. That’s very nice to hear.