This shuttered up old Tokyo liquor store is a joy to behold all by itself with its wonderfully rusted exterior and similarly decaying signs. But then add in the busted old vending machines and the retro window sticker, and it’s elevated to something really quite special. All of which was made even more appealing with an appearance by the owner as he headed out with his towel and toiletries to the local public bath.
Steve says
Gotta love beer vending machines! 🙂
Lee says
Yes, you really do. Always a treat to see, and even better if it’s an old one.
Richard says
Do the vending machines still work?
Lee says
The Pokka one possibly, but the others are long past functioning. Hopefully they’ll remain there. At least as long as the building does anyway.
cdilla says
There is just so much to like about the scene you have captured here. But I’ll just mention my favourite part – the artwork at the top of the skinny sake machine – which on first glance I thought dispensed something entirely different :-). Anyway to my eyes it looks influenced by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. I tried to see if I could find period adverts by the breweary, but found nothing like it.
Lee says
Cheers. Been past loads of times, but the light has always been rubbish. Very glad to finally get it how I wanted.
Haha, that’s very true. Does look like it could dispense something very different.
Damien says
Glad the light worked in your favour this time Lee. Some very fine weathering on those roller doors and vending machines, and the guy emerging with his bath essentials basket is gold. Was it your Leica for these shots, or something larger format? Also glad that another commenter answered what I was wondering about what the サワノツル vending machine was for (sake). For some reason, I find that one of the saddest / most poignant skinny vending machines that one sees gently rusting away in older parts of Japanese cities and towns are those that once stocked batteries for all those Showa-era torches, toys, transistor radios and Sony Walkmans.
Lee says
Cheers. Felt good to finally get the kind of photos I wanted. And like you mentioned, especially with the fella in the frame as well. Always extra special when things work out like that.
The Leica as usual for these. It’s showing its age I suppose these days as its only 24 megapixels, but the photos it produces really don’t lack any details. Printed A1 size too, and they still look good. The new one is 60 megapixels, which obviously I wouldn’t say no to, but for the candid street stuff I prefer, that could potentially cause more problems than benefits.
That’s a good call about the sake machine. Those once bright smiles look more than a bit forced and empty now…
Damien says
Thanks for the Leica information. Yes, looks like your 25 MP camera is more than adequate for the task. They’re built like tanks as they say, and the detail is great in these images.
Lee says
Yeah, they really are. Lovely things to use despite/because of their limitations. These are compressed too. Way more in the original files.