Photographs from a small group of islands
No deadlines to work to. Quite the opposite in fact, with simultaneous work on the past, present and future more akin to time travel than dealing with the demands of an actual timetable. And seemingly no stress too. Rather the gentle, almost meditative practice of pruning, shaping and carefully watering. Making arguably the most Japanese of jobs, utterly un-Japanese-like.
The serene, almost ethereal beauty of traditional Japan, and the contrasting clamour of modern Tokyo.
The concentration, calm and wonderfully old-school charm of a shogi, or Japanese chess club.
Much is made of modern, high-tech Tokyo, but at heart it’s a traditional, often old-fashioned city. And so when seen in a certain light, it can be difficult to know what decade, or sometimes even era, one is in.
Coming of age, in a technological age.
The self-consciousness of an untraditional, traditional kimono, selfie?
