A call concerning another nefarious deal, or a much more innocent conversation about what time he’ll be home for dinner?
Tokyo noir?
Photographs from a small group of islands
Photographs from a small group of islands
A call concerning another nefarious deal, or a much more innocent conversation about what time he’ll be home for dinner?
Martin says
Nice shot. The way he’s dressed if the phones were antiques it could be the 30’s. I don’t even remember the last time I saw a payphone let alone a phonebook.
Lee says
Cheers. Yeah, pity the phones aren’t way more retro. Still possible to see old dial payphones, but only in ancient coffee shops and the like. Never seen on being used though…
But still a good number of modern payphones in Tokyo. Amazingly they still get used too, as this fella wonderfully proves.
Squidpuppy says
What the… a fedora? And a gaijin? I think, sir, you’ve caught yourself a time-slipping gumshoe there, because, what is that? A Day-timer he flipping through? I wonder if there’s a statue of a black bird in that bag. A very particular photo of a rather peculiar moment. Nice catch. The weird stuff you see, eh?
Lee says
Cheers. Yes, amazing the little moments it’s possible to see in the city. Makes even a regular walking route wonderfully unpredictable.
Some interesting little details eh? Hadn’t even thought about him being a gaijin though. Even more interesting/unusual if he was. Never got more of a look at him, so sadly that bit of his face is all we have to go on.
An Ex Expat says
That seems to be one of chosen spots for a photograph, or am I wrong?
Lee says
Sort of. I’m in Shinjuku a lot, and that’s the station I use to get home. Numerous entrances of course, but I always use that one as I like the phones. Plus it has been kind in the past. Hopefully it’ll continue to be kind too.
grant says
Very cool. Great atmosphere.
Lee says
Cheers. It was a fortunate little scene to photograph.
cdilla says
It suprised me to see little payphone alcoves and I thought about taking a photo or two for 2600 Magazine, but there were always people using at least one of them.
I love the complexity of Shinjuku Station. We spent 10 days based a few minutes from it and I tried to use a different exit each time we passed through (which was three or four times a day). I’d happily spend a month doing nothing but exploring the Shinjuku labyrinth. Though that would be a hard sell to my other half 🙂
My favourite route was from exit C8, in the hotel basement in West Shinjjuku to exit B8 beside the big bookstore on the east side. About a 20 minute walk through the tunnels.
Lee says
Yeah, they are still fairly easily found. Perhaps as well too, as during the earthquake in 2011, they were invaluable, as mobile phone calls were all but impossible for a good while.
Shinjuku Station is quite a place, isn’t it? After all these years I still struggle if I’m not exiting somewhere familiar. Outside of the station I know exactly were I am, but inside, and especially in the tunnels, it’s can simply be a guessing game.
The photo though is from Seibu-Shinjuku Station. A far less confusing place. Nowhere near as busy either. And all the better for dropping you off in Kabukicho!
Hans ter Horst says
I love this, straight out of a French film!
Lee says
Cheers! One of those wondeful moments when you turn a corner and the photo is there, just waiting to be taken.