Traditional dancers at a traditional Japanese festival

5/8/2013 by 6 Comments

Tokyo changes at a dizzying pace. Buildings frequently go up and down. Shops and businesses regularly swap hands. Plus fads come and go continuously. Festivals, on the other hand, fortunately don’t — proudly maintaining their traditions and strong community ties.

traditional Japanese dancers at a traditional festival

Events that have presumably altered very little over the years.

traditional Japanese dancers at a traditional festival

Something that can also be said about many of the participants. People who in one way or another have probably been involved since they were kids.

traditional Japanese dancers at a traditional festival

traditional Japanese dancers at a traditional festival

And with Japan’s legendary longevity, they’ll no doubt continue to be involved for many more years to come.

traditional Japanese dancers at a traditional festival

Filed Under: Culture, Photography

Godzilla terrorising suburban Tokyo

5/7/2013 by 7 Comments

With Japan’s nuclear fears now very different from the 1950s when the first films were made, it seems unpleasantly apt that this Godzilla is intent on terrorising suburban areas, rather than Tokyo Bay and more central parts of the city.

Godzilla in Tokyo

Filed Under: Photography

A very Japanese spring

5/3/2013 by 12 Comments

Very spring-like. Very colourful. And very Japanese.

Japanese spring flowers

Filed Under: Photography

Looking in and out of a filthy Tokyo restaurant window

5/2/2013 by 2 Comments

When it comes to cheap and cheerful Japanese eateries, there often seems to be a weird correlation between the amount of filth and the quality of the food. An anomaly that goes against conventional wisdom and dictates that the dirtier the place is, the more delicious the grub will be.

So on outside appearances at least, the fare in this place should be of a fairly high standard. But even if it’s not, there’s still the consolation of the fella doing the cooking looking like a thoroughly decent sort.

dirty Tokyo restaurant

Filed Under: Food and Drink, Photography

A real alley cat

5/1/2013 by 10 Comments

A no nonsense, no qualms, in no way inhibited, Tokyo alley cat.

Japanese alley cat

Filed Under: Photography

Genuine Japanese smiles

4/29/2013 by 6 Comments

Free they may well be, not to mention beneficial, but in Tokyo at least, smiles are very much a novelty rather than the norm. Of course in bars it’s a different story as there is booze involved, but day to day life is sadly really rather bereft of them.

Now why this should be I don’t know, but what it does do is make those that are seen all the more special. Particularly so when they are big, wonderfully genuine ones that even masks can’t disguise.

Japanese smiles

Filed Under: Photography
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