Photographs from a small group of islands
Cyclists in Tokyo can be an absolute menace; both to themselves and other people. Two of the main offences being riding on the wrong side of the road, and recklessly not bothering with lights — sometimes even at the same time.
This fella, however, may well be guilty of the former, but he definitely can’t be accused of the latter.
Tokyo’s trains are well known for their cramped conditions, with rush hours covering most of the morning and the best part of the evening. But now and again they are quiet. Particularly around the end of the year. And when they are — perhaps because we are so used to seeing them full — they are strangely sterile, almost lonely looking spaces.
Every year on January 2nd, the Emperor of Japan gives public New Year greetings. A short address performed 5 times during the morning and early afternoon that sees somewhere in the region of 70,000 people filing in and out of the capital’s Imperial Palace grounds.
Yet despite the regressive, right wing views of Japan’s current government, and in particular its Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, the event is reassuringly festive not fervent, and much more celebratory than serious. The only real negative being the neck stretching struggle needed to see the main man himself.
New Year’s Day shrine visits see prayers made and futures predicted, but most of all the focus is very much on fun. Something that all being well 2014 will be full of.
Happy New Year!
With 2013 rapidly running out, it’s time once again to post some of my favourite photographs from the past 12 months. Like any other year it has had its ups and downs, but one constant joy has been photography — both the act itself and the exploration/discovery that goes along with it. A passion that in many ways has found its perfect companion in the land of contrasts that is Tokyo and the surrounding areas; at least some elements of which I’ve hopefully captured in the selection below.
They aren’t in any particular order, just separated into colour and monochrome. Plus clicking on any image will take you to the original post.
A set that neatly wraps up Tokyo Times for 2013. So, until the turn of the new year, all the very best for 2014!
