Smoking is still very much a thing in Japan, but with the capital’s many convenience stores plentifully stocked, small tobacconists are slowly but surely disappearing. The sighting of a new and shiny one the other week then was something of a surprise. A reformed space that proved to be as unexpected as a curious foreigner was to the apparent owner.
Below then is that aforementioned shop, along with several faded and long-closed Tokyo cigarette sellers. Plus to round out the set, a rather comical frame featuring possibly the city’s most unrepentant smoker.
Sean says
The guy in the last pic! Awesome capture!! 🙂
Lee says
Haha, thank you. It was definitely a very comical moment.
Evan says
The zombie-hued arm holding the beer and cigarette has me smiling.
Leaving the internal lights off might cater to a certain shuffling clientele.
Lee says
Yeah, that place is something special.
Haha, hadn’t though about that!
Richard says
And to think that people used to believe it was ‘cool’ to smoke tobacco! Remember the scenes of Humphrey Bogart with a cigarette dangling his mouth? Or the women using a cigarette holder…Audrey Hepburn?!?
Lee says
Yes, very different times that’s for sure. That said, it’s surprising how many people still smoke in Japan.
cdilla says
It is amazing how well the tobacco companies manipulated and exploited us. I still miss the smoky smell of pubs and bars – though never smoked myself – presumably because I was conditioned to associate it with happy socializing.
Interesting to see the new shop opening, and as always to glimpse the times gone by in your photographs.
Lee says
Yes, that’s so true. Not that long either. And in Japan it’s still more about manners than not smoking.
Cheers. It was interesting to contrast the new, the old, and the very old.