Tokyo may well be my adopted home as well as a fantastic place for street photography, but I also have a huge soft spot for Osaka, and in particular its many less than salubrious locations. Along with such interesting urban scenery, there’s generally more openness and honesty on the streets, with eye contact, interaction, and a noticeable lack of wariness in regards a foreigner carrying a camera. Elements that make the city an absolute joy to explore and photograph. In fact, there are so many picture making opportunities, that I’m planning to offer a package of photowalk tours in Tokyo and Osaka — a four or five day experience designed to cover comparable areas in each region. Locations that’ll highlight the similarities and differences, along with the chance to document the older, lesser-seen sides of both.
That’s for the future though, so for now, here are some people and urban scenes I captured on a very recent visit.
Sean says
These are all very cool. I’m lovin the Osaka vibe!
Lee says
Thank you. It’s quite the place. No doubt about it whatsoever.
YesterdaysHero says
With the backdrops and clothing many of these could easily be from another time. I think I would really like Osaka in that sense.
Lee says
Yeah, some parts of the city really do feel like stepping back in time. Certainly a big part of why I like it so much.
Rob says
That last pic is brilliant. The weathered sign, the guy staring down. Love it.
Lee says
Thanks a lot. Really pleased with how that came out. Saw the sign, looked across, and just had time to get the fella in the frame as well. Lovely when things work out like that.
Richard says
We noticed the difference with Tokyo when we were in Osaka in late 2019. Especially liked Korea town there! Thanks.
Lee says
It’s a fantastic area, isn’t it? So much to see and take in, plus some incredible food to be had.
And yeah, there really is a very noticeable difference. Hardly a small city either, so not so easy to explain it away by simply saying Tokyo is so big.
cdilla says
Great collection. Cheeky, nonchalent, bemused, insouciant, grim – all in their natural habitat caught suddenly having to decide what face to wear for the unexpected lens.
Taking advantage of your knowledge and eye for several days definitely sounds good. Having enjoyed several of your walking tours one thing that is always apparent – one day is just not enough.
Lee says
Cheers. It really is fantastic shooting in Osaka.
And thanks a lot. With them being huge cities, there really is so much to see and photograph. Both are also similar, and yet really quite different, which only adds to the experience.
cdilla says
Oh, and my favourite is the last one. Trains, rusting signage and a face at the window that reminds me I still have not found any of Michael Wolf’s Tokyo Compression books at a price I can afford. By afford I mean healthwise when I try to justify it to Mrs cdilla 🙂
Lee says
Thank you. Really happy with that one. A brief, totally unexpected scene.
A re-issue might be the only option, but not sure what the chances of that are…
john says
I like the first photo and thinking of ‘dial a haiku’, and the story of that plastic bag.
A lot of browns in the penultimate image and then I started to notice them elsewhere.
A nice reminder of sunshine!
Lee says
Cheers. Really pleased with that one, especially as I sensed he was going to appear, so for it to work as well as it did was very satisfying. Maybe even worthy of a celebratory haiku! And yeah, good call on the browns. Hadn’t really noticed that.