A small glimpse of how Tokyo was, and increasingly how so much of it now is. Something I couldn’t help but marvel at — the colours, the corrugated panels, and of course the contrast. Having seen it all and more before, however, the owner of the house was clearly happy to just enjoy the growth of her potted plants rather than worry about the similarly spreading concrete that surrounds them.
ellen says
Wow that is such a contrast. I’m so pleased she has plants.
Lee says
It really is. Two very different worlds indeed. But yeah, the plants definitely seemed like a very welcome distraction.
YTSL says
I’m a big fan of the films of Ozu. Sometimes, I have to remind myself that many of them are supposed to take place in Tokyo because the city shown in them is so different from what much of it looks like in the 21st century. But, as many of your photos show, bits of old Tokyo actually do remain… and sometimes right next to newer Tokyo!
Lee says
Ozu’s films really are fantastic, aren’t they? And yeah, it was a very different world back then that’s for sure. But like you said, it’s still possible to find little pieces of it. Something that will hopefully continue for many more years to come.
Paul says
This is absolutely perfect. I would like this house to stay like this forever.
Thank you very much.
Lee says
Thank you. And you are very welcome. It’s an incredible place, isn’t it? So much to take in and enjoy. Be nice to think that when the sadly inevitable day does come to demolish it, somebody will step in at the last minute and have it dismantled and lovingly rebuilt somewhere else.
Richard says
Thanks for this. The contrast is striking. Not sure that I would like to live in a home overshadowed by a large building like that. That is what some call ‘modern urban life.’
Lee says
You are welcome as always. And yeah, it really is quite a contrast, isn’t it? The changes she must have seen are truly mindboggling, but hopefully she’s somehow adjusted to modern urban living.
cdilla says
What a contrast of architectures. You capture such clarity and detail even on what looks like a grey day.
Whilst the old building wins all the points for layout, visually appealing design and materials, and colour, the high-rise wins on comfort and view.
I wonder if you’d ever manage to capture the lady looking up and crossing glances with another lady on a high balcony looking down, both looking with some envy at the other’s abode.
Lee says
Cheers. Certainly wasn’t the sunniest of days, but after a lot of rain, just being dry was plenty god enough.
Yeah, no two ways about it. These old houses are great to look at, but I would not want to live in one. A lot of basic comforts would have to be forfeited that’s for sure. But yes, what a photo that would be eh?