In seemingly no time at all, 2024 is rapidly drawing to a close, meaning it’s time once again to share my favourite photographs from the last 12 months.
The year has been both a busy and productive one. My photowalk business has seen a healthy amount of bookings, plus Osaka is now an added option as well. I’ve also had the pleasure of licensing my images to a variety of products, publications and outlets. Doing a couple of album covers was new and interesting, plus I finally got in the print version of the Guardian — something I’d wanted to do for the longest time. The main image was a good size too, which made it even better.
Since February, I’ve also been taking photos for a project that should see the light of day this coming spring. An initially simple idea that turned out to be far bigger and more involved than any of the team envisioned. At the same time, the extra work it entailed, and the difficulties we’ve overcome, have ultimately made the whole thing better in every conceivable way. Along with that, the challenge of having to quickly capture a whole host of required scenes under difficult lighting was totally new, so to have produced everything that was needed, and be happy with the results, has been a huge confidence boost. Needless to say imposter syndrome is still never far away, but those thoughts have at least been suppressed a little bit. All of which means I can’t wait to share the results and see our creation released into the world.
And talking of sharing, my selection of photos this year is slightly different from those of the past. Having fully moved to posting only sets of images, my aim is to always try and cover a theme, or tell a story, and the sets I’ve chosen are more down to those collective aspects rather than the strength or looks of any one single image. The selection I’ve made is also about the overriding narrative of these series, as they cover what I really want to try and do with my photography — namely documenting the disappearing and the already lost, along with individual histories and human perseverance. To keep things manageable, I can only show a few shots from each series here, but there are links to the original posts below the relevant images.
All of which nicely wraps up Tokyo Times for 2024, so until the normal Tuesday and Friday updates resume from January 3rd, enjoy the holiday celebrations and the people you spend the break with.
The disappearance of a beautiful old yakitori shop
The life and retirement of an elderly Tokyo pickle maker
The end of a traditional old Tokyo sweet shop
Scenes from the outskirts of a slowly declining Japanese city
A half-century old Japanese restaurant and its elderly owners
The colours and quiet scenery of a slowly declining Japanese town
YesterdaysHero says
Thank you for these and all the other photos you share Lee. Your work is important. I look forward to seeing what you point your camera at in 2025.
Lee says
Thanks ever so much and you are very welcome. That’s really kind and very encouraging. Hopefully the coming year will be a productive one.
T says
Such splendid work as always from your masterful eye Lee. Another year well done! Looking back, I realize I’ve been following you for I think 10-15 years, I just recall starting sometime after coming back from Japan in fall of 2007.
May another 15 pass as successfully for you.
Lee says
Thank you very much. That’s really kind. And wow, that is a long time. Cheers for sticking with me, and another 15 years really would be good.
Damien says
Very nice Lee. ‘Japan Nobody’ is an apt moniker for the abandoned places you’ve captured, as well as the aura of the demolished sites of former small shopkeepers and their little living quarters out the back or up above. Being a Shinto priest or a Buddhist abbott these days in Japan must be lucrative: no shortage of funerals and funerary anniversary ceremonies to officiate at and receive a generous fee; and no shortage of recently demolished old stores and homes where the new owner of the plot (whether they intend plonking a new house on it or sealing it over with bitumen for a car space or three) might want to get the spirits of the former occupants to move on to the next place with the help of the white paper wand shaker and his mantras.
Lee says
Thanks a lot. And yes, that is so true. An element of all this I hadn’t even thought of. Definitely a lot of money being made.
cdilla says
Thank you for the reminder of a wonderful year of posts from you.
Many of your photographs have the ability to draw the viewer into the scene you have captured, and my favourite of this year’s collection certainly does that for me, and for Mrs cdilla too. I can hear the sounds outside the window the guy is looking through.
May 2025 bring everything you hope for.
Lee says
You are very welcome, and thanks a lot. That’s really kind.
That moment in the cafe was something else, wasn’t it? One made all the more special as it was shared.
Richard says
Thanks, Lee, for all of the great photos you have posted this year. Viewing them is part of my early morning routine with a cup of coffee here in California. I especially like the 3 of the elderly people. Their love of life is infectious!
Looking forward to your next big project. Best wishes for continuing success and good health in 2025.
Lee says
Thanks a lot, Richard. That’s really nice to hear.
And all the very best to you too. I hope 2025 is a good one for you.
Denise says
Thank you so much for all the beautiful photos. You show the joy and sadness that is real life.
Happy New Year!! 🙂
Lee says
You are welcome. Photography is my work, but the photos are also very much a labour of love.
Thanks, and a happy new year to you too!