Taking a cat for a walk is one thing, but making it wear a kimono and a wig is another altogether. A truly preposterous affair that, judging by its expression, the feline seemed all too aware of.

Taking a cat for a walk is one thing, but making it wear a kimono and a wig is another altogether. A truly preposterous affair that, judging by its expression, the feline seemed all too aware of.

It’s very easy to say that you never know what’s round the next corner in Tokyo, but the city does have a habit of producing genuine surprises. On an impressively regular basis too. And this young woman. Somewhat elaborately dressed for a dirty old alley. Was certainly one of them.

With the harvesting of rice in Tokyo not far away, it’s time once again for the city’s sinister scarecrows to do their work. A job that obviously involves deterring birds, but it often feels like their main focus is staring menacingly at me.

And now you.

Land is not only expensive in Tokyo, but also scarce, so invariably every single plot is used as much as is humanly possible. And that also means used no matter how solid said land is, or even what architectural problems it may present.

With power saving once again a priority, and electricity bills about to rise, it’s going to be another hot and very unpleasant summer in Tokyo. Fortunately, the Cool Biz campaign means that many people won’t have to suffer in a suit, but the ultimate in cool clothing — in a purely functional rather than fashion sense — has to be this air-conditioned jacket.
A garment I’d previously only seen on the internet, but unlike attractive young ladies gagging for middle-aged men, or improbably generous Nigerians, it’s actually genuine.

One of the great joys of living in Tokyo is that despite all the regulation, it is also incredibly random, meaning it’s impossible to predict what’s round the next corner. And it’s even better when any unexpected sightings have the common courtesy to cover any further surprises.

Tokyo Times is owned and run by me, Lee Chapman, a long-term resident of Tokyo who arrived in 1998 for ‘a year or two’, and, for a myriad of reasons, stayed put.
Japan means many things to many people, but Tokyo Times is how I see it. The places. The people. The day-to-day situations. All of it shot using a Leica, a Nikon and a selection of lenses.
My photographs have appeared in the Guardian and Japan Times, plus numerous magazines and books. Should you wish to use any, or simply ask a question, you can get in touch with me here.
Copyright © 2013 · Tokyo Times
Recent Comments