In Tokyo, old school taxis and their distinctive colours are rapidly disappearing, and those still in use are invariably plastered with ads, disrupting the beauty of their simple and appealing design. Seeing a completely unadorned one then is an increasingly rare occurrence, so to spot a pristine yellow model in wonderfully colour coordinated surroundings was absolutely lovely. A moment made even more special due to the fact that after taking this one photo, the cab set off and my camera’s battery promptly died.
That very recent shot also provides me with the perfect excuse to once again show some older, but similarly colourful frames from the past. A small set that I can hopefully continue to add to.
Sean says
These are all very cool. I’m lovin the colors 🙂
Lee says
Thanks a lot. It was really good to capture them in these settings.
Andrew Graham says
I spent quite a few hours waiting to photograph any of those colourful taxis add to that shooting them at night with a slow shutter speed was not the easiest choice but I got a few I was happy with. It’s such a shame they seem to be disappearing because they have so much more character.
As always Lee, another great set of images which makes me want to return to Japan.
Lee says
Thank you very much.
Yeah, as frustrating as it can be, trying to get photos of these retro beauties is always fun. And definitely worth it too with them rapidly disappearing.
YesterdaysHero says
You’ve captured some incredible colors here Lee. The new one is great but the second remains my favorite.
Lee says
Thanks a lot. I have a real soft spot for that one as well. There were many near misses, and more than a few visits, before I got that particular frame. The tunnel has since been repainted too, so no chance at all of attempting another.
Richard says
Thanks for having captured and shared ‘the good old days’ of the taxi. Made me recall fondly when I lived in Tokyo some 50+ years ago!
Lee says
You are very welcome, and glad they brought back some fond memories. Tokyo would have looked a lot different back then that’s for sure. Definitely a time period I’d love to have photographed.
Richard says
Parts of Tokyo look a lot different when I go for a visit every few years! So much so that I cannot recognize them anymore.
Lee says
I bet. Tokyo really is a city of change.
cdilla says
It is so good to see these unadorned and always pristine taxis. Even since my first visit to Tokyo in 2015 I have noticed how polluted their livery designs have become. Shame there isn’t a real life equivalent of adblocker.
When on our most recent photowalk with you one of our favourite “finds” was that taxi repair yard. So many in the same field of view – what a treat.
Thanks for continuing to spend so much time and effor seeking out these perfect photographs and sharing with us.
Lee says
Thanks a lot and you are very welcome. It’s all very much a labour of love.
It really is a shame. Those ads are terribly unsightly, although at the same time maybe it keeps some of those cabs going for a little bit longer.
Ah, yes, that was great. Lovely to see so many in one spot. A real glimpse of what was.
Matthias says
The very first pages of Haruki Murakami’s IQ84 are taking place inside a Tokyo Cab (Toyota Crown Royal) on one of Tokyo’s highways.
Old school mystery & very nice reading, anyhow. These pictures are matching perfectly to the story. Thank you!
Lee says
You are very welcome. Glad to hear they appeared at a nicely coincidental time. Not read any of Murakami’s more recent novels, so thanks for the reminder.