Tokyo Times

Culturally or otherwise, I’ve never had any kind of association with it, and in my entire life I can probably count on one hand the number of cans or bottles of the stuff I’ve drunk, and yet seeing old Coca-Cola signboards in Tokyo is always a genuine treat.

What specifically it is about about them I don’t really know, but their faded colours and textures are clearly a factor, as is the similarly dated nature of the buildings they are attached to. Then there’s that mix of East and West, plus in some cases at least, the rapidly encroaching modernity of the surroundings. All of which adds up to something really quite special, making them great to stumble upon and occasionally seek out.

Signs of the past that were rather appropriately photographed in places covering the city’s eastern suburbs out to its much more distant far west. Also, the first and last are very recent finds, with the others from years gone by, and apart from the fourth one, they are all happily still standing.

Shinjuku train station is the busiest in the world, and the nightlife spots in the areas surrounding it are similarly crowded. Blaring screens, signs and people everywhere make it as packed with revellers as it is brightly lit, and yet amid all the chaos and noise there are still quiet scenes to be enjoyed. Moments like the ones below that briefly at least defy the surroundings and offer something akin to a sense of calm. All of which were photographed over the last couple of weeks or so. A time when masks were officially deemed unnecessary, and things in Tokyo finally started to feel like they were getting back to normal.