Surprisingly there’s quite a lot, especially so in the city’s older districts, as well as some of the suburbs.
Tokyo’s population continues to grow, so that can’t be a factor. Although the number of elderly are increasing which could well explain some elements of it. Plus like everywhere else in the world, it’s tough for small shops to survive. Especially so here with the ever growing number of convenience stores.
I love these desolate scenes you photograph. You often pick a moment when there is just one person in shot too. It emphasises the slow decline rather than complete abandonment.
There are loads of wonderful intricate textures too.
Just for fun I tried to use a combination of OCR, Kanji Wiki and Google translate on the sign text, and the best I came up with was “Compensation trout”. So, adopting an expression akin to Bill Murray’s in the Park Hyatt, could you enlighten me as to the correct translation:-)
Thanks. The sign and the shutters were easy to photograph, but it took a while for somebody to walk past. As luck would have it though, the woman who eventually did fitted the scene almost perfectly.
Compensation Trout is funny. The first three kanji make up a name which even the missus isn’t sure how to read, but the パーã‚ング is simply parking. But parking in what sense I really don’t know. Perhaps it’s parking for trout?!
I was just going to say the same thing. But that would probably be パッã‚ングno long vowel. Might have been one of those little mom & pop factories that used to be everywhere in mid-Showa. They were already fading by the mid 80s.
Yeah, it’d be パッã‚ング. It was also my first thought before I read it properly.
A surprisingly amount of little, often one man workshops are still going. Especially out in east Tokyo. But it’s sadly only a matter of time before the vast majority of them disappear…
There’s just something iconic about these shots – very much another aspect of Tokyo and urban Japan in general. The color palette of this shot is great – everything in concert to soften the desolate imagery with a human tone, so rather than outright depressing (blues), it’s warmer, and kind of sleepy.
Just got back from a short trip to Tokyo, and here’s a shot you’ll recognize LOL http://i.imgur.com/WNapu8x.jpg In keeping with the theme.
Contrast with: http://i.imgur.com/HFGnkKb.jpg (Ura-Harajuku) Just a phone snap, so meh quality. Maybe you can go and get a better one ^_^ The ranks of buildings and streets here are fascinating.
Thanks. The colours were lovely. Warm and suitably subdued. And the old lady was kind enough to have dressed accordingly for the photo!
I do indeed recognise that spot! Presume you saw the alleyway (well, kind of alleyway) just to the left of it? Always wanted to get a shot of it with somebody walking towards me, but as yet it has eluded me. Never anybody there…
Yeah, it’s an interesting mixture there, isn’t it? Sadly never sure how to photograph scenes like that. If there’s no person to focus on I’m more often than not a bit flummoxed.
Martin says
How much of Tokyo is like that? A sign of declining population or just big stores taking over?
Lee says
Surprisingly there’s quite a lot, especially so in the city’s older districts, as well as some of the suburbs.
Tokyo’s population continues to grow, so that can’t be a factor. Although the number of elderly are increasing which could well explain some elements of it. Plus like everywhere else in the world, it’s tough for small shops to survive. Especially so here with the ever growing number of convenience stores.
Al says
Kinda sad but I love that old sign! 🙂
Lee says
It’s a bit special, isn’t it? Very evocative of a different time.
cdilla says
I love these desolate scenes you photograph. You often pick a moment when there is just one person in shot too. It emphasises the slow decline rather than complete abandonment.
There are loads of wonderful intricate textures too.
Just for fun I tried to use a combination of OCR, Kanji Wiki and Google translate on the sign text, and the best I came up with was “Compensation trout”. So, adopting an expression akin to Bill Murray’s in the Park Hyatt, could you enlighten me as to the correct translation:-)
Lee says
Thanks. The sign and the shutters were easy to photograph, but it took a while for somebody to walk past. As luck would have it though, the woman who eventually did fitted the scene almost perfectly.
Compensation Trout is funny. The first three kanji make up a name which even the missus isn’t sure how to read, but the パーã‚ング is simply parking. But parking in what sense I really don’t know. Perhaps it’s parking for trout?!
jim says
Would the katakana for parking be the same for packing?
Pat says
I was just going to say the same thing. But that would probably be パッã‚ングno long vowel. Might have been one of those little mom & pop factories that used to be everywhere in mid-Showa. They were already fading by the mid 80s.
Lee says
Yeah, it’d be パッã‚ング. It was also my first thought before I read it properly.
A surprisingly amount of little, often one man workshops are still going. Especially out in east Tokyo. But it’s sadly only a matter of time before the vast majority of them disappear…
Squidpuppy says
There’s just something iconic about these shots – very much another aspect of Tokyo and urban Japan in general. The color palette of this shot is great – everything in concert to soften the desolate imagery with a human tone, so rather than outright depressing (blues), it’s warmer, and kind of sleepy.
Just got back from a short trip to Tokyo, and here’s a shot you’ll recognize LOL http://i.imgur.com/WNapu8x.jpg In keeping with the theme.
Contrast with: http://i.imgur.com/HFGnkKb.jpg (Ura-Harajuku) Just a phone snap, so meh quality. Maybe you can go and get a better one ^_^ The ranks of buildings and streets here are fascinating.
Lee says
Thanks. The colours were lovely. Warm and suitably subdued. And the old lady was kind enough to have dressed accordingly for the photo!
I do indeed recognise that spot! Presume you saw the alleyway (well, kind of alleyway) just to the left of it? Always wanted to get a shot of it with somebody walking towards me, but as yet it has eluded me. Never anybody there…
Yeah, it’s an interesting mixture there, isn’t it? Sadly never sure how to photograph scenes like that. If there’s no person to focus on I’m more often than not a bit flummoxed.