This young entertainer in a Tokyo park had the lot. He told jokes. Possessed a whole host of great visual gags. Plus along with countless other tricks, he could juggle knives and eat an apple at the same time. A performance so consummate in fact, that it could only be equalled by the wonderful expressions of those watching.
The future was once said to be so bright that people had to wear shades, but now it’s presumably just fashion rather than any particular feeling.
Even though it’s only one building, Midori no Sono nursery school felt like two very separate haikyo: the possession filled rooms of the sadly deceased owner that were featured last time (photographs of which can be found here), and then the actual school itself.
Just like other abandoned schools, and in particular this incredibly preserved one up in the mountains, it’s the complete silence that was once again the most notable feature.
Clearly music practice was a regular occurrence, but it’s not anymore. And hasn’t been for many years.
So instruments that were once functional, as well as part of the furniture,
now look rather forlorn.
As do the chairs once used for that regular feature of school life, student photographs.
Although it’s probably fair to say that the students looked more uncomfortable then, than the seats do now.
Elsewhere, it was more of the same: Everyday items.
Traditional ornaments.
Memories.
And toys. All of them left behind.
Along with rooms that while full, seemed incredibly empty.
The only sign of (relatively?) recent life being these tracks in the kitchen; a flood having covered part of the ground floor with a now dry and cracked layer of mud.
But other than the unidentified beast, the place was pretty much completely untouched — presumably just as it was when the last of the teachers left.
A little over 20 years ago.
Tokyo perpetually throws up contrasts, including equally contrasting people. What is unusual, however, are said people openly conversing on the street. A situation so clearly awkward that it becomes immediately obvious why it isn’t more common.
A traditional kimono. Modern coin lockers. And a brief moment of calm amidst the confusion of Shinjuku Station.
“Chibi-chan, quick quick, a foreigner!”
“A what? A foreigner? Let me see. Where? Where?”
“Hurry up. There he is. Down there. Look at him.”
“Oh yeah. Don’t see many of them round here. Isn’t he strange looking? What’s he doing?”
“No idea. But up to no good I reckon. Keep your eyes on him.”
“I will, I will.”
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