I’ve photographed this wonderfully old and dated Tokyo shopping arcade before, and the last frame in this series is from my first visit several years ago. However, with Tokyo changing so fast, heading back and spending a bit more time there felt like a must. These new shots then (along with that aforementioned earlier one) are the results of a recent visit. I spent about half an hour there, the bulk of that time waiting for people to pass through, as perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s not exactly the busiest of places.
Best of all though was seeing and chatting to the old lady setting up her little bar for the day. Now in her 80s, she’s still running the business she opened back when the arcade was built in the mid 1970s. Looking at the area now, the changes she must have seen are hard to grasp, and yet at the same time, in regards to her day to day life, nothing much seems to have changed at all.
YesterdaysHero says
Great work as usual Lee. Thank you for the context you so often provide. It gives further depth to your photos.
Lee says
Thank you very much, and you are very welcome. Really nice to hear that the added details add to the photos.
cdilla says
Such evocative photographs. The quietness of the now surrounded by the history of the busy past. The old couple in the distance drew my eye most today. Perhaps they met and dated here.
Lee says
Thanks a lot. I really like the scene with those two in it as well. Definitely seems like they’ve visited for years.
Matthias says
The blue sign says they have whale snacks on offer…? Hopefully not anymore.
Lee says
Happy to say Snack is just a kind of bar. No reference at all to food being served.