It’s definitely very distinctive, especially on such a bright, sunny day. And yeah, the fella tucked away in the corner was a very nice little extra. Didn’t even notice him at first as I walked up to take the photo.
I love the way you have captured the artificial, primary, blue/green/white/yellow/pinks used and their echoes in the natural colours that surround them.
I wonder how long those concrete gazebos have been there. Though weathered they have barely changed at all in the two years or more since this you last shared them (https://www.tokyotimes.org/the-bleak-beauty-of-a-suburban-tokyo-park/).
I wonder of the old folk who frequent them now played in and around them as kids.
None of the play parks around us last for more than a handful of years before being revamped.
Thanks. Very fortunate with the surrounding colours. All lovely matches.
In the background you can just see a bit of a rainbow. It’s a slide of sorts, and whenever I walk past — which is a lot more often these days — I always hope that there’ll be an old person resting on it, but alas, it hasn’t happened yet.
I often wonder how long they’ve been there as well. And considering they have barely changed in a couple of years, for that kind of weathering it must have been a long while.
Considering there are lots of danchi in that area, my guess is they very likely spent time there when their kids were little. That’s how I’d date the park if I had to have a guess. So somewhere around the mid-to-late 60s perhaps.
I can’t put into words why but this strikes me as one of the grimmest photos here I can recall. I hope there is more greenery, some grass, outside the photo to take the edge off.
Out in the suburbs in particular, Japan has quite a thing for grim parks. Some that make even this one seem positively idyllic. And sorry to say there’s no grass. Some faded stone animals, but they don’t exactly brighten it up.
That said, the rainbow slide thing you can see a bit of in the distance is quite popular with the local kids. There’s even some swings over there too. But still not especially appealing…
Are they putting the world into order?
You have the guy looking up and the cloud centrally placed, and those splashes of illuminated lilac as a bonus.
On the right I noticed the shadows creeping across and then noticed the reality that is a shadow of what it used to be.
It is such a shame the gazebo cleanup squad haven’t been around. It can’t be that much toupee?
Nah, just both sitting there, very quietly. The lilac and the solitary cloud were definitely nice little bonuses. If only it had a been a single dark cloud though. Now that really would have been something!
They have swept the area by the looks of it, so that’s a start — of sorts…
DavidT says
That’s one cool looking park. Such awesome colors! Kinda sad but I really like the guy sat in the shade. 🙁
Lee says
It’s definitely very distinctive, especially on such a bright, sunny day. And yeah, the fella tucked away in the corner was a very nice little extra. Didn’t even notice him at first as I walked up to take the photo.
Jenn says
Hey he’s outside the house in the sun. That counts for a lot these days! 😉
Lee says
That’s very true indeed. All those things we used to take for granted eh…?
cdilla says
I love the way you have captured the artificial, primary, blue/green/white/yellow/pinks used and their echoes in the natural colours that surround them.
I wonder how long those concrete gazebos have been there. Though weathered they have barely changed at all in the two years or more since this you last shared them (https://www.tokyotimes.org/the-bleak-beauty-of-a-suburban-tokyo-park/).
I wonder of the old folk who frequent them now played in and around them as kids.
None of the play parks around us last for more than a handful of years before being revamped.
Lee says
Thanks. Very fortunate with the surrounding colours. All lovely matches.
In the background you can just see a bit of a rainbow. It’s a slide of sorts, and whenever I walk past — which is a lot more often these days — I always hope that there’ll be an old person resting on it, but alas, it hasn’t happened yet.
I often wonder how long they’ve been there as well. And considering they have barely changed in a couple of years, for that kind of weathering it must have been a long while.
Considering there are lots of danchi in that area, my guess is they very likely spent time there when their kids were little. That’s how I’d date the park if I had to have a guess. So somewhere around the mid-to-late 60s perhaps.
Steve says
I can’t put into words why but this strikes me as one of the grimmest photos here I can recall. I hope there is more greenery, some grass, outside the photo to take the edge off.
Lee says
Out in the suburbs in particular, Japan has quite a thing for grim parks. Some that make even this one seem positively idyllic. And sorry to say there’s no grass. Some faded stone animals, but they don’t exactly brighten it up.
That said, the rainbow slide thing you can see a bit of in the distance is quite popular with the local kids. There’s even some swings over there too. But still not especially appealing…
john says
Are they putting the world into order?
You have the guy looking up and the cloud centrally placed, and those splashes of illuminated lilac as a bonus.
On the right I noticed the shadows creeping across and then noticed the reality that is a shadow of what it used to be.
It is such a shame the gazebo cleanup squad haven’t been around. It can’t be that much toupee?
Lee says
Nah, just both sitting there, very quietly. The lilac and the solitary cloud were definitely nice little bonuses. If only it had a been a single dark cloud though. Now that really would have been something!
They have swept the area by the looks of it, so that’s a start — of sorts…
Stephan says
It’s an interesting scene. I think some children playing would make it look different but the old guy alone is sad.
Lee says
Yes that’s quite possible, although the old fella aside, on such a bright sunny day, that’s about as good as it’s going to look!