Month: April 2012

  • Hitting the streets of Tokyo II

    Hitting the streets of Tokyo II

    Here is another round of shoots that I took in Tokyo during vacation. The funny thing about Tokyo is that it is so many different things going on everywhere. There is always a new shopping mall that’s about to open, always some park that is hosting an event of some kind, always something to see. So if you like to take pictures there is always something going on somewhere, you just have to find it.

    The strange thing about this man wasn’t the man himself, it was that everybody was trying their hardest not to look at him…

    What is the best way to get you message out to the crowd? Shout?

    You were not allowed to park you bicycle on this particular location.

    An aquarium full of Fugi. The fish contains a deadly poison that shuts down you neural system. There is today no known cure for those who have the unfortunate of eating a peace containing the poison.

    I wonder if the fish actually is that good, or if it´s because of the thrill… guess there is only one way to find out.

    Chillin!

    In one of the many street corners in Tokyo there was a small angel watching.

    Outside almost every hotel or shopping mall there were stands for wet umbrellas. Place you umbrella in a slot and lock with the key. Signed by /The management

    In making an effort to make the gray streets a little bit greener!

    Chillin!

    /Thomas Tanisawa

     

  • Hitting the streets of Tokyo

    Hitting the streets of Tokyo

    Went out on the streets of Tokyo to snap some pictures and here are some of them.

    It’s funny how everybody is constantly looking at their phones. No one or at least very few speaks in the phone since it is prohibited in most areas but EVERYBODY is using it to read news, play games, watch TV or chat with friends.

    Sometimes is convenient with a transparent see through umbrella.

    This guy must have been really proud of his position (so was the guy who they made the statue after as well)

    A small Tokyo visitor is hiding behind the bench on a safe distance from the camera.

    This is a Japanese delivery company ASKUL that in Swedish means something like “Shitload of fun”

    /Thomas Tanisawa

  • Kinchakuda

    Kinchakuda

    Today was a day spent at Kinchakuda near the city of Koma in the Saitama prefecture. A beautiful area just one hour by train from central Tokyo, where you really can relax and get that “out of the city” feeling. So if you want to escape the noise of Tokyo for a moment (without going too far away), head for Kinchakuda.

    There was a lot of people having picnic in the fields.

    This Japanese was “Living the dream”. Even though it was in a smaller scale, it still was a living, breathing steam engine locomotive!

    Heading off into the wild.

    Notice, his actually reading a analog book. Not like everyone else here in Japan, reading books on the phone.

    – Can I please take this home?

    When Japanese people do something, they always go all in to make the most out of it. In this case having a picnic out on the shore means, bring chairs, tables (one of the tables was actually a real indoor wooden table), a lot to eat, a lot to drink, mark a good spot and cover it with blankets. Also make sure that you do NOT spread you things outside of the covered area, except your shoes of course…

    /Thomas Tanisawa

  • Streets of Tokyo

    Streets of Tokyo

    Some images taken from our visit to Tokyo during the easter 2012.

    To tired to walk?

    I just love how house owners in central Tokyo decorates the street outside to make it look nice for everybody passing by.

    The first leafs of the season lets the sun pass nearly without giving any shade at all to the ground bellow.

    It looked like this girl didn´t pass the latest school test. She surly wasn’t allowed to stand together with her friends…

    This is the feeling of being a parent. You constantly find yourself chasing your kids who without any hesitation rushes in to the future.

    I guess no one crosses his road without being watched!

    /Thomas Tanisawa

  • Sakura blossom in Tokyo 2012

    Sakura blossom in Tokyo 2012

    So this is what everybody talks about. Cherry blossom in Tokyo is magical. The tiny pink and white cherry flower completely fills the sky and in some areas the rows of trees just keeps on and on. All I can say is -Wow!

    For regular tourists that visits Tokyo for a week or two, must have a big portion of luck to be able to see the cherry blossom in its full glory. The blossoming only last for a week in Tokyo and that week varies from year to year depending on the weather and temperature, adding to that is the fact that you often book flight tickets month ahead makes it not that easy… Luckily the season for cherry blossom in Japan is quite long so if you are prepared for some travel time to see the blossom you shouldn’t miss it.

    As soon as the cherry blossom starts Tokyo prepares itself for an intense party time. In every park or street that has cherry trees the area under the trees is covered by people celebrating the return of the cherry blossoming. Notice that in this picture a group of people have reserved an area and has marked the spot by placing three boxes with beer… I can just imagine what would happen here in Stockholm if I in a public park full of people, left tree boxes filled with beer all by them self… Anyway, this is Japan and apparently this is how they do it!

    This guy has made a business out of selling grilled fish to bypasses.

    Some of the streets had special lighting in place during the cherry blossom so you could walk around under the trees during the evening. Very spectacular to see and it felt like you took part of a really special event in Japan.

    And then a couple of day after it has started, it went from spectacular and new to just ordinary and daily for most Japanese.

    And then a week later all the flowers fell off like snow and piled up on the street bellow. So now Tokyo has 51 weeks left until the next Cherry blossom 2013 starts!

    /Thomas Tanisawa