With 2019 nearly done and dusted, it’s time, just like last year and the year before that, to choose my favourite photos from the last 12 months.
Even by recent standards, this year has been an absolute shocker, but in a world seemingly gone mad, photography has once again been an incredible source of joy, and to a certain extent, escape. The gift that without a doubt just keeps on giving. What’s more, the constant desire to photograph the city, and indeed the country I live in, has taken me to all sorts of places, and in doing so, allowed me to meet all sorts of different people.
In this sense I’ve been doubly lucky, as 2019 has also seen my freelance photography and bespoke Tokyo photowalks business experience its best year yet. Most notably in a pure photography sense, I achieved a long-term goal of having a photo series in The Guardian, and photowalk-wise I’ve done more than ever before. The latter providing the chance to meet a huge variety of people, from a whole host of different countries. Visitors who have happily proven that there really is hope after all, as contrary to how it sometimes seems, the world is actually full of interesting, open minded individuals who are intrigued by the world around them.
And on that unusually positive note, these are the photos I like the most, or in some cases, simply mean the most — each with a link to the original post below. A set of images that wrap up Tokyo Times for the year. So until January 3rd, when normal posts will resume, Merry Christmas and all the very best for 2020!
A Tokyo salary man emerging from the shadows
A photogenic Tokyo subway station at night
A truly lovely old Tokyo bar owner
The loveliest of lovely old couples
Tokyo wildlife, laughter and working life
Portrait of an old Tokyo bar owner
A wonderfully old Tokyo tofu shop and its owner
A slightly odd, elderly lady in old Tokyo
The Tokyo quiff of all quiffs?
A really young Japanese newspaper reader
Tokyo urban art zip, and urban style looks
Huge, Hello Kitty-related urban art
The self-confident swagger of a Tokyo salaryman?
An old Tokyo chef at his grill
Tokyo rainy season lights and reflections
Dramatically downing a beer in a dingy Tokyo bar
Distinctive Tokyo taxi looks, and lines
A disused Tokyo tram in the middle of nowhere
The sad, silent beauty of an abandoned Japanese train platform
A Japan photo essay: Looking for the lost
Abandoned scenes from a faded Japanese hot spring resort
Thoughts on Tokyo past and present?
Coli says
Many of these pictures are also some of the ones I enjoyed most as well! It’s always a treat every Monday Wednesday and Friday to see your pictures. Thank you for a great year. Hope you and yours have a great holiday season.
Lee says
Thanks ever so much, that’s really good to hear.
And you too, all the very best!
Jenn says
Thank you soooo much for all the photos! I wish you all the health and prosperity you deserve in 2020!! 🙂
Lee says
You are vert welcome.
Thanks a lot. You too, I hope 2020 is a good one!
DavidT says
An awesome year. Lots of my favorities here. Happy new year! 🙂
Lee says
Cheers. Nice to hear you like the selection. Always a tricky balance between those that have extra personal meaning, and those that I think simply work as photos.
You too, Happy New Year!
Alex says
Amazing photos so hard to pick a favorite. Thanks for always sharing your work!
Lee says
Thank you! And you are very welcome. Good to hear you enjoy them.
Steven-John Tait says
Great photos. Difficult to choose a favourite. Im going to say, Red hat hello kitty, the old facade with the beautiful script above it and the underground station are my top three.
Lee says
Thank you. Good to hear your top 3. Always interesting to know which photos other people prefer as some of them have particularly fond memories attached to them, so it’s often hard for me to be truly objective.
Tobias says
I really want you to know that I thoroughly enjoy your photos, your website is one of just a few bookmarks I visit almost daily.
You and your wife, have a great 2020!
Lee says
Thank you very much. Really good of you to say so. And of course that’s very nice indeed to hear.
Cheers. You too. All the very best in the coming year!
Renee says
These are all so great and capture the culture. Thank you for sharing and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Lee says
Thanks a lot. You are very welcome, and all the vey best for 2020!
Sean says
An excellent year of photos! Your pictures inspired me to go off the beaten path while I was in Tokyo this year. Thanks for sharing.
Lee says
Thanks a lot, and you are very welcome.
Excellent. That’s very good to hear. Hope you got some decent shots!
john says
Aside from my love of Tokyo plant pot gardens
and the amazing ‘Tokyo rainy season lights and reflections’,
like a sharpened up digital take on Saul Leiter’s ‘colour’,
the ‘truly lovely old Tokyo bar owner’, reminds me a little of Shunryu Suzuki
and that just maybe, they are all the best.
HNY!
Lee says
Cheers. Very happy about the Saul Leiter reference. I’ll take that any day!
Ah, I can definitely see why. There’s a zen element in the old bar owners demeanour, so suitably fitting.
Thanks. You too. All the very best!
Evan says
Thanks for sharing your wonderful art Lee. Your photos and comments add so much to my days.
Best wishes for 2020!
Lee says
Thanks a lot Evan. Knowing that other people get something out of the photos I personally like, and like taking, really is lovely to hear.
You too. All the very best for 2020!
Harry says
So many awesome photos! 🙂 Thanks for always sharing!
Lee says
Thank you, and you are very welcome indeed!