This old subway entrance is fascinating in itself; the faded colours, grime and inexplicable bit of protruding rock providing a glimpse of what a lot of the network was presumably once like. And on this occasion at least, that sense of the past was further added to by the unexpected appearance of a woman in a kimono.
Julien says
Is that one of these metro station deep underground that you showed some time ago ? It looks very much like it.
Did you have any ounce of planning when taking this ? If not, that’s awesome timing. And this woman’s kimono colors (not that traditional) adds a lot to the picture.
Lee says
Nah, they were a good few hours out of the capital. This is part of the Tokyo Metro. Very unusual though. Not found any other corners quite like this.
Oh, and no planning whatsoever. Just hope! Got very lucky. Especially so as she appeared after only five minutes or so. All we could have hoped for really.
Didn’t know the colours weren’t traditional. That’s interesting. Sadly my knowledge of kimono is extremely limited.
LAObserver says
It is amazing how you keep doing this Lee. The colors on the woman’s kimono matches the color on the adjacent walls, stairs and window. Even the adornment in her hair complements several other colors in the frame. Bravo ! (A very beautiful kimono BTW.)
Lee says
Thank you very much!
I’d love to take credit for all that, but as ever it was pure chance. Or perhaps more accurately, pure luck. I purposely went there to show a friend, and had the hope of someone interesting appearing. In preparation I set up the shot too. But then for her to walk by wearing, as you rightly say, a very beautiful and coordinated kimono, was way more than I even secretly hoped for.
john says
I think she is on the way to being a rock star..
http://www.japansnapping.com/post/169560598518
For a moment I had a deja view experience.
Lee says
Haha, rock star indeed!
Happy to hear you follow JapanSnapping. A good friend of mine. He was over in Tokyo for a fun few days.
This was at the start of our outing for the day, so you can imagine how happy we both were. No better way to start a photowalk than getting a keeper straight off.
Linda says
Never saw Japansnapping before but am loving it. Similar subject matter to yours but more dogs. 🙂 Did you also take him to a bar on January 8? Because I’m sure I recognize the guy in this photo as a regular.
http://www.japansnapping.com/post/169444773764/news-reader-more-news-readers
Lee says
Good. You’ll definitely enjoy his photographs. And yeah, that was the night before the photo above!
john says
Twice as happy? I was wondering if you were all standing next to each other.
If you start your photowalks at the zoo you can always ensure that they could start with a few keepers ;o)
Lee says
Pretty much. Yeah, we were both stood there at the bottom of the stairs, so no wonder she looks a little surprised!
Haha, I’ll stick with keepers of the non-zoo variety!
Denton says
That’s a really cool contrast. I like it. You framed it really nicely too! 🙂
Lee says
Thanks! Couldn’t believe my luck. All I could have asked for, and probably a little bit more too.
cdilla says
That is a great photograph of a very eye catching scene. The “lovely”, the “grimy” and the “what the hell is that?”, all occupying different parts of the frame in balance.
No many, if any, days go by without some kind of Douglas Adams inspired thought crossing my mind. In this case the “Oh no not again” quote of the bowl of petunias called into existence hundreds of miles up un the sky could apply both the lady, on seeing more photographers taking an interest, and the rock, upon seeing you taking a photo of it again 🙂
Anyway, a definite contender for inclusion in the next year end favourites roundup.
Lee says
Thanks a lot! Yeah, there’s a lot to take in. You won’t be surprised to know that I really like this spot.
Haha, that’s likely very true. Even more so seeing there were two of us with cameras at the ready! That said, watching people walk up and down those steps, nobody else seems to pay that bit of rock any attention whatsoever. Seems strange to me, as I find it absolutely fascinating. Or maybe it’s just me that’s strange!
Cheers. Definitely. It’s a photo I’m pleased with, and one that has nice memories attached. So a very likely inclusion.
yuin says
As LAObserver pointed out, the colours in the woman’s outfit do rather match the surroundings remarkably. I like the coincidence of how the blue in the panel on the right is picked up in her hair accessory and the flowers on her kimono!
This subway entrance looks familiar somehow. Which was Metro station was it? I feel like I may have been there on my last trip to Japan…
Lee says
Yeah, it all worked out remarkably well. Way better than I could have hoped for in all honesty. Really nice when results turn out that way.
It’s Asakusa. A small, old-school section of a mostly modern station.
Linda says
Love this. Two bits of tradition that I hope have a long future ahead of them.
Lee says
Thanks! The kimono will definitely survive. Of that I have no doubts. This part of the station on the other hand is very much on borrowed time I fear…