Tokyo Times

Quite a few years ago I had the pleasure of finding a concrete park telephone. A push-button themed slide that I’ve also included here, as considering its rarity and lovely retro looks, how could I not?

To be honest, I didn’t think it’d be beaten, as there’s just so much to like about it. There’s also the added extra of the kids it’s designed for likely having no idea whatsoever what the reference is.

Yet beaten it might well have been by the new discovery of a rotary dial version that is both more complex and considerably more obscure for those who’ll have fun on it. Above all else though, it simply looks fabulous, especially so in an otherwise rather drab and nondescript local park.

On a very different topic, with the summer weather now in full-on heat and humidity mode, I’m going to slow Tokyo Times down for a bit, and instead of the usual Tuesday and Friday updates, I’ll instead just be posting on Fridays until August 16th. Then, from that date onwards, the usual 2 posts a week will resume.

Regularly returning to certain areas is a key part of my photography. For starters, the scenes involving people are always going to be different, plus, and particularly so in recent years, rampant demolition is constantly changing how those locations actually look.

This long-term stay hotel in Tokyo’s poorest neighbourhood, however, has barely changed at all. Well, apart from a recent trim that is. A sight that never ceases to amaze, so when the light is on the softer side, it’s impossible not to wait outside for a while to try and photograph any activity. Invariably there isn’t any, but occasionally things do happen, and opting to shoot with a slightly wider lens the other week, the results look a little different from previous efforts.

Here then is a mixture of those recent shots, along with some of those from the past. An ongoing document of this incredible structure, and another record of how truly resplendent it looks covered in its full summer foliage.

One of the wonderful things about Tokyo is that you can never be completely sure what lies around the next corner, making it a city of regular surprises and new discoveries. With that in mind then, this is a series of corners taken over the last week or so. Fragments of the city that hint at potential new finds, as well as highlighting the sheer variety of structures and sights one can always find.

This old shop with its dated sign, tattered awning and broken vending machine has long been a favourite. When it closed down I have no idea, but it was quite some time ago to say the least, as its appearance hasn’t changed in years. A structure that was a landmark of sorts for me, and one I always enjoyed seeing. Also, despite far too many photographic failures, I thankfully did manage to incorporate a suitable person in a couple of frames.

The building’s demolition, however, always seemed inevitable. In fact I’m amazed it lasted as long as it did. And so a few weeks ago, when approaching once again, a sad but increasingly common Tokyo sight came into view.