A couple of years or so ago I took the first photograph. The scene really appealed, but as some customers turned up I didn’t get a chance to speak. Only a picture.
Returning last week, I was pleased to see the shop still there. The last of two businesses in a little alleyway that must have once been quite busy. And yet that said, it was both lovely and a little surprising to see a steady stream of youngsters turning up with their parents or grandparents. Many of the latter likely reliving their childhood days, as remarkably the shop has been in operation for 74 years. Even more incredible is that the owner has been there the whole time, and remains there undeterred at 94. A man who despite his age, and dealing with the public everyday, is quiet, and endearingly really quite shy.
Denise says
What an adorable little shop. 🙂 I can’t imagine living to 94 but working until then?!! 😮
Lee says
Yeah, it’s a wonderful looking little place. And yes, that really is an incredible age to still be working. Probably 6 days a week too.
Günter says
I admire his dedication. I can not imagine working at his age.
Lee says
No, likewise. His little part of the world that clearly means a lot to him.
Richard says
THAT is an amazing inventory! I bet he knows where each thing is. How heartwarming that he is still working after 74 years. As a grandparent myself I am sure they get as much pleasure out of going there as their grandkids.
Would you share where this shop is? I would like to let friends of mine know who live in Tokyo. They might take their granddaughter there.
THANKS for a great set of photos!
Lee says
You are welcome.
Yeah, I reckon so. He was meticulously filling up all the boxes after a few sales too.
The shop rather unusually doesn’t come up on Google Maps, but it’s near Shimura-Sakaue station.
Richard says
Thanks!
cdilla says
Ah the joy back in the 60s and 70s of eking out your pocket money on an almost daily visit to see the vast array of cheap confectionary down at the local corner shop. Fruit salad, black jacks, sherbet pips, liquorice root, luck bags, pear drops… It’s wasn’t a dedicated shop, but a sizeable section of it. Run by a family whose name was same as the shop. Then across the road to the offy to get the soda siphon filled, and back home for a fizzy drink and handful of sugar that would fuel us for hours as we ran around our kingdom.
These photographs, despite being from half way around the world and half a century later spark all the above memories. Thank you.
john says
no flying saucers?
cdilla says
Absolutely! But they were in the lucky bags. Don’t know why they were not sold on their own – too fragile perhaps.
john says
I’m glad they had space for a few :O).
Lee says
You are very welcome. I enjoyed taking them and returning there. Great to get the chance for a quick chat too.
A lot is different of course , but some things in the world do reassuringly seem to be universal.
john says
It looks like the sort of place where serious decisions must be made and old calendars can be used.
I like the action shots and his addition of a few images to brighten the corners.
I wonder if the figure in the shadows was intentional in that first image.
Lee says
It was funny watching the kids. So much thought went into their decisions. They weren’t spending much, but it was spent very carefully.
Cheers. It was nice to get some shots of customers, and the old fella re-filling the boxes. And yes, I was pleased to get that shadow there. A little something extra.
YTSL says
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing. (And not only did you make the right decision to return but also share more than one photo of the man and his sweet shop.)
Lee says
Thanks a lot. And absolutely my pleasure. It’s such a wonderful little shop, and it deserved way more than the original, solitary shot. It also felt important to take more, as for obvious reasons it might not be there next time…
LAObserver says
An interesting study in marketing. As I cannot read Nihongo, just the bright colors draws my eyes and makes me want to know what is inside each package. The different shapes can be as magnetic as the colors for that matter.
Lee says
Yes, that’s a good call. Each one is unique and distinct. And in a shop like that, they need to stand out. The sheer amount of choice certainly had the kids spending a lot of time making their purchases.