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Mar 08 2011 7 Comments

Timeless Japanese pottery in a timeless Japanese shop

Away from Tokyo’s super busy and brand saturated shopping areas, there are countless little stores that don’t seem to have changed for years, decades even — both in appearance and personnel. And this place, on an old and semi-deserted shotengai, is certainly no different.

But, after originally taking the photo to capture the face of the old woman who owns it, on closer inspection, the shop’s poignant signs of the passage of time are almost as appealing.

old Tokyo shop

Categorized: Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Badboy says

    3/8/2011 at 1:05 pm

    She has a hint of “You gonna buy something cameraman”? on her face. One of my fav pics of yours….don’t know exactly why?

    Reply
    • Lee says

      3/9/2011 at 12:16 am

      Happy to hear that as I like it myself. And similarly I can’t really say why.

      Reply
  2. gunmagirl says

    3/8/2011 at 10:40 pm

    The rotary dial phone on the table makes it hard to believe it’s Tokyo, 2011. In a way she and the pottery are timeless, but the phone…

    Reply
    • Lee says

      3/9/2011 at 12:19 am

      Yeah, it is today, but like so many places, it could be almost anytime in the last few decades or so. Even longer ago for some shops.

      Reply
  3. Don says

    3/8/2011 at 11:42 pm

    I love the wear pattern of the floor, how it transitions from the painted pattern to the primer and at last through to the wood itself. Beautiful shot.

    I’m curious with shots like this, do you speak to the person when they notice you like this, or is photography just so commonplace it’s not necessary?

    Reply
    • Lee says

      3/9/2011 at 12:30 am

      Thanks Don. Yes, it really shows how much time she has spent in the place. And especially so in that small area. Really fascinating.

      As for speaking to the people I shoot, it’s very rare that I do. Not so much that such practices are commonplace, but it’s something I don’t really want to do. Mostly because I want the moment to speak for itself, without any extra info or story. That way it’s whatever people want (or indeed don’t want) it to be.

      Reply
  4. Troy Worman says

    5/20/2011 at 4:05 am

    She reminds me of my grandmother, Grandma Grape.

    Reply

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