City of Individuals
This photo essay tells the story of six days in Tokyo. I had planned to photograph people in their work environment, and chat with them as unobtrusively as possible. I came away with a feeling of having met many unique people - talented, interesting and interested, warm, friendly, confident and often constrained.
This group of photos has another thread running through it. Of quiet, peace and solitude amidst one of the busiest cities in the world.
Kawai-san, owner of the beautiful cafe Ko Hi Ko Jo in Yanesen. He came out to chat with me, and spoke about how Tokyo has changed over the decades. He is travelling the world, and we hope to meet again somewhere.
Nanao-san works at Ko Hi Ko Jo cafe. She suggested I go to Shimo-Kitazawa and Koenji in the west of Tokyo, as I would find interesting subjects there.
Young couple in Shimo-Kitazawa. They embodied the area's coolness.
Fashion shop assistant in Shimo-Kitazawa.
Koenji, like Shimo-Kitzawa, turned out to be full of interesting people with very individual styles. This was especially so for people working at clothing stores. This young woman was especially kind to come out into the light from the shop behind and give me a few minutes to photograph her,
Young woman working at an izakaya at Koenji station. The izakaya had few customers and she was able to spare a couple of minutes to let me photograph her. She stood reserved but confident - hands clasped behind her back, feet together and gaze steady.
Nezu-jinja, a place of peace and serenity in a city of quiet back streets. I sat there for some time, doing very little. And saw several families - infant, parents and grandparents - come in for formal portraits. I found out later that this was "omiyamairi", the first shrine visit for the baby.
Japan Communist Party campaign posters in a narrow street near New-jinja. Two little dolls peek out from the window above.
Man repairing an audio component at his shop in one of the electronics-dedicated buildings in Akihabara. We chatted. He was excited to tell me he has been to London, and the one place he mentioned was Battersea.
Young woman who was distributing fliers for a maid cafe in Akihabara. There were many young women distributing fliers for various cafes, but she was the only one who agreed to be photographed.
Ryuga, a security guard helping with crowd control and keeping people away from street promoters in Akihabara.
Inside the Tsukiji Hongan-ji Temple. The temple's architecture is influenced by temples in India.
Friendly barista at a cafe in Ginza. She and her colleagues chatted with me and were happy to interact with my camera when the cafe was empty. One of them learnt how to use my rangefinder, and then photographed the others with it. They have invited me back to the cafe in Ginza again.
Father and daughter, who run a monjayaki restaurant in Tsukishima.
Photobook Diner Megutama near the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum. The cafe is wonderful. You pick a photo book and go through it while having your coffee or lunch. I found a book from which I had just seen photos displayed at the museum.
Worker at a shop in Nippori Fabric Town. I had hoped to capture many such photographs - people immersed in their work. Nippori Fabric Town has hundreds of fabric and textile shops, each with its own speciality.
Physics students of Tokyo Science University near Kagurazaka. Talking with them was my most direct use of my electronics engineering degree - I told them I hated solid state physics when I was at their stage in my education.
After the evening rush hour at Shiodome station. This was the last evening of my trip.