It’s impossible to even guess how many times I must have walked past this lovely looking old sweet shop — both on my own, and on one of my Tokyo photowalk tours. A sight that due to its patched up nature and overgrown exterior never disappointed. There was the added bonus of the lovely little karaoke sign for the establishment next door too. The only problem was that upon turning the corner, there was always the very real chance of it not being there anymore. Partly because so many of Tokyo’s older structures are disappearing, but even more so due to the planned widening of the road, with this place slowly but surely becoming one of the last surviving hold outs.
And just recently that day sadly arrived. Initially the shop was simply shut with a sign posted saying thanks for all the custom, along with the added info that circumstances meant they had to close down after 50 years in business. Then not long after that the demolition crew arrived and unceremoniously started to tear it down. A scene that on the second day was made all the more poignant by the man on the left watching it all happen. His own shop once occupied the exact spot he was standing on, so I’ve included a photo of him working there back in the day.
But that was then and this is now, and sadly neither place exists anymore. Cars will undoubtedly travel by quicker in the future, but the journey itself will be a lot less interesting.
Denise says
Oh this is so sad………. 🙁
Lee says
Yeah, a real shame to see this one go.
YesterdaysHero says
Great documentary work again Lee. I appreciate the addition of the store’s neighbor. Another level to the story for me to take in.
Lee says
Thank you very much. That’s really kind of you. Seeing him there added a lot for me too, so it felt important to get a photograph of the moment.
Richard says
The grey, wet day is apropos of what happened. Thanks, too, for adding the last ones of the neighbor and his shop. Can you recall what kind of business he ran?
Lee says
Yes, very appropriate weather. It was definitely a poignant extra to have the former neighbour there too. He was, and still is a seller of nuts and bolts. He moved his business to an empty building only 10 metres or so away, hence him being there to see the demolition.
cdilla says
A moving exhibition of pictures and words. Fruit all the rarer for the years you have put in to its cultivation.
The note seems to translate as including and apology to his neighbours for the inconvenience. Do you think that refers to the future lack of sweet shop or that he held out for so long against the road development?
Lee says
Thanks a lot. Yeah, some of these photos go back quite a few years. Using them like this certainly wasn’t what I envisioned when I took the earlier ones…
Both and neither I’d say. Much more just the Japanese way of saying/doing things.
Rob Harris says
I vividly remember seeing this building at the beginning of my photowalk with you. I’m saddened, but not entirely surprised, to hear that it’s gone. A million thank-you’s for photographing and sharing it with us all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWz2jPkI9uY&t=235s
Lee says
It was entirely my pleasure. Well apart from the last ones. It was a building I always enjoyed seeing, just as it was similarly enjoyable being able to show it to you. As sad as it is, at least we got see it. That definitely means a lot.
john says
Where now for a bag of bolts or one of flying saucers? Such a shame there’s not a brief corner shop kami ceremony (or even a quick team bow) before removing rafters, taking topiary and moving metals….
Lee says
That’s a good point. This one was rare in that people had left thank you flowers. Never seen that before. But yeah, some kind of farewell ceremony would be a fitting send off.
Happily the nut and bolt man just moved to a place nearby, so his little empire continues unabated.