Tokyo Times

Jul 15 2022 15 Comments

A reflective Tokyo business dinner

This was one of those moments that I simply liked the looked of, so I took one quick frame when walking by. Quite why it appealed, however, is difficult say, and even now, after editing the resultant photo, there’s not one particular thing I can confidently pinpoint. And yet that said, it somehow, in some way, seems to work.

From Monday, I will be swapping these kinds of scenes for those of my native Britain. A much needed trip back to see family, as well as some time away to try and take in all that has happened in the last 12 months or so. A chance to also start to think about the times ahead.

While I’m away, Tokyo Times will switch to weekly posts every Tuesday. I’ve put together some sets of re-edited and previously unseen photos, along with a couple of posts made up of recent shots. These will start next week and continue until August 23rd. Then, from August 30th, the usual Tuesday and Friday updates will resume as normal.

Jul 12 2022 10 Comments

A wonderfully unique little block of Tokyo buildings

These three buildings have fascinated me for a long time. Partly because of their individual looks, but much more so because of how they work together. A sort of perfectly imperfect match in many ways.

That said, I always wanted a photograph with a person in the frame. A bit of interaction perhaps, or maybe some matching colours. In the end though, I arguably got a result that feels far more worthwhile — a resident.

Jul 08 2022 10 Comments

The empty plots and newly exposed structures of old Tokyo

Almost twelve months ago, I posted a series of empty plots where old homes and business had once been. Spaces that despite offering little in the way of hints, still manage to feel strangely evocative of the past. Much more obviously, they also expose walls and sometimes even whole structures that haven’t seen the light of day for decades.

Such changes are a common theme on these pages, along with my photography in general, so a year on from that first set, here’s a follow-up. The photos date from a week or so after that initial post, to some that were taken very recently. None of them offer any real clues of what was, but several do provide far clearer images of what’s to come.

Jul 05 2022 8 Comments

The undisguised indifference of a Tokyo bar owner

Some bar owners are naturally gregarious, making them a perfect fit for the job they have chosen. Many more, on the other hand, very likely feel the need to put on a bit of a performance, so this fella’s approach of undisguised indifference seems refreshingly honest. A bold move in the land of customer service, and reading through online comments, it’s one that perhaps unsurprisingly confuses more than a few of his customers.

Jul 01 2022 13 Comments

A very urban Tokyo game of golf

During Japan’s bubble years, golf was the game in regards business and prestige. Deals were done on the course, and club membership was a status symbol — the cost of which could be truly astronomical. Of course at the time it was simply an economic miracle and not a bubble. Then all of a sudden it was a bubble, and the value of club membership collapsed, resulting in many golf clubs going out of business.

Since then the sport has struggled on, but coronavirus has unexpectedly resulted in fresh interest, both on the course and at driving ranges. A shift in attitudes towards leisure time, and golf’s relative safety during a pandemic seemingly the key factors.

That said, it’s still far from cheap, and players need to both book and travel to get a game. Alternatively, an hour or so at the driving range may suit some, but for those looking for a bit of competition and a chance to improve their putting, a day under the motorway might well be the best bet.

« Previous Page

Footer