Old stores run by elderly owners aren’t unusual in Tokyo, with one of my most memorable visits in recent times being a lovely looking little sweet shop managed by a 94 year old. A business that’s even more amazing considering he opened it when only 20 years of age.
In a very different way, this one is also incredibly special. I’ve photographed it before, but on this occasion I finally got to speak to the proprietor and take his portrait. He’s 85 and has been running the shop for half a century. A place that sort of sells everything, but at the same time absolutely nothing. And yet despite all those decades and the decidedly ramshackle surroundings, he shows no sign of giving up any time soon.
Denise says
Wow! I feel like the vending machines are the only reason it doesn’t topple over! 🙂
Lee says
Haha, it does have that look. Be fascinating to go upstairs and see how uneven it is inside.
Richard says
WHAT kinds of things does he sell?!?
Love the vending machine!
Lee says
All kinds or random stuff. Cleaning products, fertiliser for plants, sauce. Goodness knows how old it all is though.
Yeah, those vending machines and their placement is wonderful.
cdilla says
What a find. Nice to be able to have a bit of a chat with the owner too. I assume that is miso he is portioning up, and out back it looks like miso, cola and cider are his best sellers. Maybe some hamburg steak sauce too. I hope that sign is salvaged when the time comes.
Whilst doing a bit of research I searched (using duckduckgo) for tokyo 3601 1083 and this post of yours was the top hit! Some fancy image processing being done by the indexing engine.
And for completeness I then did the same search using google. And you were again, at the top, but, and here is the gobsmacking bit, it also included my comment! This comment, which I have not even posted yet! I’ll send you a photo of the my screen.
cdilla says
Bah, never mind. It seems I posted almost the exact same thing when you originally posted the exteriors back in 2018. Mystery solved 🙂
Lee says
It was. Very glad he was there and happy to talk. And yes, that was miso..
Glad this came up first, but a pity your comment didn’t actually appear before you’d even posted it. That really would have been something.
scruffy says
@cdilla: Funny!