Skip to content

Tokyo After Dusk

Tokyo changes its form after the sun sets and the electric lights turn on. While during the day, the seemingly endless sea of concrete and glass is roamed by people, it gets surprisingly quiet by night. Unlike New York or other world capitals, Tokyo generally sleeps at night. Japanese people work a lot, and additional office hours are standard, so sleep is highly valued. Hard to believe, but even the sprawling subway system is shutting down service for nighttime so it can be cleaned and maintained for the upcoming day. Of course, there are exceptions, as no city with the size and proportions of Tokyo can genuinely go to bed. Like in a fever dream, people continue playing and gambling in places like Akihabara’s entertainment district or go to Izakayas, a Japanese pub, to meet people, eat, and drink. And, of course, the lights illuminate Tokyo’s allies and streets, bringing day into the night.

test

img_2355
img_7805
img_1596
img_1772
img_1785
img_2187
img_1668
img_1739

Tokyo 2

The inherent beauty of Japan is how it first seems to contradict itself constantly, but the more you get to know the country and its people, the more it shapes into a whole and harmonious picture. Why are the streets so clean, you may wonder, yet there is no concept of public bins. Well, people don’t produce waste on the go, and if they do, they take it with them because it ain’t the public’s business. There is a firm idea of the collective, yet there is enough place for individuality and creative expression. Most and foremost, Japanese culture is firmly rooted in the past and very forward-looking. This may seem like the biggest contradiction, but it all makes sense when traveling to this intriguing and fascinating country and getting to know its many inhabitants.

test

Processed with VSCO with b2 preset

Processed with VSCO with b6 preset

img_9089

img_0071

Processed with VSCO with b1 preset

img_9873

Processed with VSCO with b2 preset

img_8524

Tokyo

Tokyo is one of the largest cities on earth. It is a megacity in every sense of the word, where you can get easily lost in the masses of people, where motorways pile level upon level, and the skyscrapers seem to touch the sky. It is a marveling sculpture of steel, concrete, and glass. Also, it is where you get fantastic sushi, buy robots, and visit cat cafes. Last but not least, Tokyo is the home of fourteen million humans. Faces you merely pass by tell stories of lives in this strange but enchanting megacity.

test

img_2043

img_2059

img_1617

img_2060

img_7641

img_2155

img_1761

img_2073

Processed with VSCO with b4 preset

img_2085

The Art of Sumo

Sumo is a Japanese form of ring fighting where one massive wrestler tries to force the other one out of the ring. The fight is part of the Japanese cultural heritage, and the Sumo ringers are regarded as stars and national heroes in the country. The Sumo Ring Hall of Ryogkoku is commonly understood as the birthplace of the sport and is still the most critical competition site. Once a year, on the day of the Tenno on April 29th, the hall is open to the public free of charge. On this day, it is possible to watch the most famous Sumo ringers of the country in training. The following pictures were taken in 2016.

test

img_7015

img_7083img_7118img_7086img_7067img_7058img_7104img_7102img_7081

Land of the Rising Sun

It’s the time of the year when you look back and appreciate it. The highlight of 2016 for me was a backpacking trip to the Far East with friends. I do my share of traveling, especially in Europe, as I work in tourism, but Japan was something else.

It is a fascinating country with a unique and foreign yet familiar culture. We all know Japanese animes, video games, and films. They portray a bustling and modern country yet rich in culture and history. What struck me the most was the friendly and welcoming nature of the Japanese. At the same time, the social rules here are very different, and one would need more time to understand the inner workings of this society. So, I am aware of the snapshot perspective I got. It’s a foreigner’s view, for sure. Nonetheless, I was eager to capture the spirit of what I was seeing: the magnificent temple architecture, marvelous nature, and, last but not least, the people of Japan themselves.

This one is just the first part of a more extended series that will stretch into 2017, possibly over winter. It takes some time to curate these and make them online-ready. So come back occasionally and dive in with me into the Far East.

test

Processed with VSCO with c2 presetProcessed with VSCO with c2 presetProcessed with VSCO with c1 presetProcessed with VSCO with c2 presetProcessed with VSCO with c3 presetimg_0397

Processed with VSCO with c1 preset