With Tokyo’s long summer now finally at an end, it seems like a good time to show this collection of photos taken over those hot and humid months. Weather that in relation to human habitation doesn’t offer much in the way of benefits, but it does at least provide the perfect conditions to make long-abandoned bicycles look really quite beautiful.
Denise says
These are so adorable. I’m in love with the pink bicycle and matching pink flowers! 🙂
Lee says
Thank you. That did all match surprisingly well.
cdilla says
Another great collection of photographs. So pleased you included a link to the older set – I had missed that one in the tunnel:-)
I was a big fan of SF art in the seventies especially those showing nature taking back technology. Especially the sadly passed Tim White, as here in the Monument cover https://downthetubes.net/in-memoriam-sf-artist-tim-white/
These photographs echo what I felt as a teenager looking at an A3 version of that painting (and still have two copies of)
Love the bike names too, Suntrust, Floatmix, Casual, Transit, MarkRosa, How Ever, Jeep..
That first name just needed a leaf to cover the first T 🙂
Lee says
Thanks, and cheers for the link. I’ll have a proper long look at that later.
That bike in the tunnel was really quite something. And yes, definitely a sci-fi feel to it. Goodness knows why it ended up there….
Yeah, the very random names are definitely a bonus element. Sun rust would really have been the icing on the cake.
john says
I’m a bit of a fan of your ‘cycles with green patch’ photos, but nontheless ‘What a waste’ and ‘Such a shame’ came to mind. I have just realised that the former must be a creative alliteration (and ‘tailormade’ for a hit).
#2 looks like a bobber project gone all wrong
and the penultimate is a real bit of matching kintsugi.
Slightly connected, I found some interesting mugshots in oils..so that is two things..
http://www.colindavidson.com/#the-day-i-heard-that-mark-hollis-had-died-self-portrait
Lee says
Yeah, there’s definitely a lot going on besides just being overgrown bikes, and a waste indeed for some of them in particular. Maybe come winter they are well oiled and wheeled out once again.
Oh, cheers. Those portraits are fantastic. The phone does not do them justice, so will look properly when in front of a much bigger screen.
GrassyJ says
Based on some of the artwork and style, it looks like some of those bikes date back to at least the 80s…. which is wild to me they have been sitting there for so long. Not to mention the relatively good condition while exposed to the elements.
Lee says
That’s a very good call. Hadn’t really thought about it like that. But yeah, they really have survived well, and also not been moved for the longest time.
Richard says
The plants growing around and through the bikes are lovely. But the overall effect of things abandoned like that makes me wax nostalgic: whatever happened that the owners just left these perfectly good bikes?!?
Thanks for this and the other collection, too.
I hope Japan gets some relief from the rain. Bring on aki bare!!
Lee says
You are welcome. These bikes are always a joy to see.
Yeah, there are lots of questions, but the beauty of some of them is really something. So fleeting too.
Not having to deal with the heat and humidity has been lovely after so many months of it. Hopefully a long autumn now before winter sets in.
Richard says
Aki bare has always been my favorite time of year in Japan. After so much rain in recent weeks here’s hoping you get a nice, long spell of dry days with comfy temperatures.
Lee says
Cheers. So much nicer now without the oppressive humidity.