This closed and slowly decaying Tokyo shop has always fascinated me. The colours are still lovely, and its slightly odd location under a bridge adds more than a little extra. Plus if that wasn’t enough, there’s also the inexplicable F-1 reference.
The last time I photographed it was nearly a year ago, and I was fortunate enough to capture two young ladies in somewhat matching kimono. So with that shot in mind, I was hoping for something similar.
Instead, I got a couple who weren’t wearing masks. Something that’s still a rarity in these parts. But more than that was their quiet tenderness. A simple arm over the shoulder isn’t exactly a massive show of public affection, but it’s not a common sight in Tokyo at all. And so seeing them both contentedly strolling past was without a doubt much nicer than some simple matching colours or patterns.
Sean says
But they are kinda matching!
Lee says
Yes, that’s very true!
cdilla says
There is a quiet tenderness there, and unusual as you say. There is hardly ever any physical contact between obvious couples of any age that I’ve seen in Tokyo. Often, from what I have seen, enforced by the lady rather than the guy 🙂
A marvelous shop that looks to have last been open more than ten years ago, although the array of vening machines outside were still there, stocked and in use until much more recently.
I wonder if it is holding up the bridge to have survived like that.
F-1? Possibly a pit stop reference, something that would kind of suit a sandwich shop on a busy road.
Lee says
Yeah, there really isn’t much at all. I remember after the earthquake there was a slight change. People seemed more inclined to show their feelings a bit more. But that has faded again with time.
Ah, yes. Good call. That makes sense. It holding up the bridge, on the other hand, hopefully isn’t the right call!
Richard says
A bread (pan) shop? It is heartwarming to see a couple having any physical contact in public in Japan. Thanks!
Lee says
Yeah, that’s right. Or at least is was, anyway. And yes, it really does make a nice change.