Photographs from this lovely old and traditional Japanese shopping street appeared on Tokyo Times a couple of years ago. By then, only two businesses remained, and while the tofu seller appeared to do pretty well, the green tea shop seemed more like a museum piece than somewhere to actually make a purchase.
Still, those two stores and all the old signs made it a sight to behold. Returning recently, however, the inevitable had happened. In fact, not only had it been completely demolished, but a new house was already standing on part of the land it once occupied.
Like I mentioned in my July newsletter, I’m trying to be more zen about these kinds of disappearances, and rather than feeling sad, I simply try to be grateful for the chance I had to see, experience and photograph such places. And being fortunate enough to have seen this little street really is something to feel thankful for.
YesterdaysHero says
Great documentary work again, Lee. You really are saving these locations.
Congratulations on your recent Guardian feature. I personally found it nice to recognize some of those included.
Lee says
Thanks a lot. That’s really good to hear. I really do feel fortunate to have seen and experienced such places.
Cheers. Always special to be in the Guardian. Glad you recognised some of the photos too. A few old faves in there.
Denise says
Another sad story but the couple look so sweet together 🙂
Lee says
Yeah, it was nice to see them going about what must have been a very familiar ritual.
Jen in NZ says
Oh my, what a vignette! The third to last where the customer looks like she’s waving goodbye and then like they are walking out for the last time… and then the punch to the stomach of that last photo.
The unusual ‘font’ of the Kanji on the ceiling signs were very cool too. Brilliant that you have preserved them. And the ampersand in the second photo is one I’ve never seen anywhere!
Lee says
Ah, that’s a good call about the wave. I hadn’t thought about it in that way. And yeah, that last scene…
Thanks. Those old signs really are special, aren’t they? I do hope someone preserved them.
scruffy says
As a lover of mostly all old things, thank you for capturing this stuff. Just wonderful. Imagine what people will think when they see these photos say 50-100 years from now. It may be hard to fathom for future viewers.
Just everything about the old tea shop. The chair. The pots and cups. The packaging. The crates. The curtain. The photo makes me very curious about the rest of the shop.
Lee says
Thanks a lot and you are very welcome. Really glad I’ve had the chance to see and experience these kinds of places.
That tea shop was something else. Nothing changed at all in the times I visited. Would have been fascinating to see in the back, but no way I could have asked. Would have felt much too awkward..