Six years ago I took this photograph.
It’s an image I hold incredibly dear. The brief connection, the house and the abundance of life on display made pressing the shutter very special indeed. Yet while it was special then, it feels even more precious now.
That extra significance came about a couple of years ago, when I passed by again and was shocked to find the building empty and devoid of life.
Fast forward another two years, and it’s now an even sadder sight. Age, its wooden nature and no maintenance whatsoever mean the structure is in a terribly bad way to say the least.
So bad in fact that growing gaps in the walls and windows allowed me to take a few shots inside. An interior that due to Mother Nature making inroads, has developed a kind of decaying beauty. Something about that sink really does appeal. But mostly — just like this bar from a few months ago — the overriding feeling is one of silence, as well as complete and utter emptiness. A place that despite its incredibly ramshackle nature, was once very much a home, whereas now it is little more than a forlorn looking shell.
Morgan says
These are poignant images. It is a sad story but I also know it is the natural passing of time. Thank you for sharing them.
Lee says
Thanks, and you are very welcome. Yes, that’s very true. Something that’s inevitable for everything, and indeed everyone.
Jenn says
I remember this house………………. 🙁
Lee says
Certainly one I will never forget.
cdilla says
The photographs and the story behind them are very touching. The glimpses inside show us faint glimpses of what lay behind the sunlit smile of your first encounter.
StreetView again goes back to 2010 for this house with eight passes over the passing decade. They allow sight of the rear of the house too.
But without your personal touch they have no anchor – nothing to make you pause and think.
Lee says
Thank you. Amazing what the human element does to what would otherwise just be a slightly interesting building, isn’t? That’s very thorough. Street view really does cover Tokyo on a regular basis.
I knew it would be basic to say the least inside, but goodness knows how cold it must have been in winter. Being on the corner would have only made that worse as well. She was clearly very hardy.
Rogerio says
Very powerful pictures.
Lee says
Thanks a lot. It’s terribly sad I know, but it’s encouraging to know that the photos manage to convey something along those lines.
Linus says
Beautiful series of pictures, even though one gets painfully reminded on fast time passes.
Lee says
Thank you very much. Yes, it really does. That sink was beautiful, but it was a beauty tinged with sadness.