This is the finale of my four part series of Tokyo Through Photographs. There is much more that I could cover, but I will save that for another time. Tokyo is a multifaceted city. I won't rehash parts 1-3 of this blog, so please check them out and it will strengthen why I come to this conclusion. You will find many parks nestled among the tall buildings. Unexpectedly you may even find wildlife. And occasionally you may find a little piece of home. Yet at other times you will discover the unconventional. I read other blogs to get some perspective, and some are not as kind, and paint Tokyo as drab. I'm not wearing rose colored glasses, but my outlook is on the positive side, because that is how I see Tokyo. So with my photographs I tried to capture Tokyo though the lens of my camera.
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Nature: I'm amazed with the usage of space in Tokyo. Buildings are butted up against each other or a small gap exists between them. And yet there is room for green space, every square hectare is utilized. In the above photograph of Hinokicho Park near Tokyo Midtown, popup art is often on display. I was excited to find the dirt exhibition of Mount Fuji. Even wildlife occasionally makes an appearance. The below photograph of the Grey Heron reminds me of some type of Avian Dinosaur.
The Unconventional: I have come across some unique places in Tokyo and businesses are no different. There is something for everyone. From high end designers stores, to budget friendly 1 coin stores. Then there are stores that fall under a different category. Both of these stores in the below photograph are in Harajuku. The little yellow character on top of the vending machine is holding a sign that says "Be Safe". How appropriate for the time we are currently living in 😅
Water: The waterways in Tokyo are significant and sometimes hidden. There is an interesting story about how water was brought to Tokyo. Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu sent Okubo Togoro to build a water system in Edo, or what is now Tokyo. Many years ago I captured this shot of a water pump in the Hiroo district of Shibuya. As I walked by, curiosity got the best of me and I wanted to see if it worked. Much to my surprise it did. A couple of years later I revisited the site and there was a chain with a lock around the pump handle. I'm not sure if the chain and lock can be directly attributed to me, but I'm sure I played a role. Recently I returned once again, and the chain and lock have been removed. I did not let my temptations overcome me this time. I'm not sure where the source of this water comes from, but it looks fresh and clean.
A Piece of Home: Tokyo is an international city by default, it is the capital of Japan, with over 500,000 foreign residents. I live on a small island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean called Oahu, Hawaii. So when I saw the Honolulu Coffee Company coffee shop located in the Azabu Juban district, I was somewhat elated, but not surprised. Hawaii and Japan have a connection dating back to the early 1800's but not seriously until the mid 1880's. If you cross the Rainbow Bridge you will come to a quaint place named Odaiba. There too I found a piece of home. I have been to Odaiba many times but recently discovered Lady Liberty (Statue of Liberty) was not only in New York City, but Tokyo.
Some may wonder why I am so enamored with Tokyo specifically, Japan in general. Although I have a deep love and appreciation for my home country, there are many characteristics and traits that the people of Japan possess. For example, omotenashi, when translated in English, means hospitality. Just the English translation does not do the act of omotenashi justice, it is much deeper than that. You will get a deep appreciation of omotenashi when visiting a Ryokan. I recall one such visit. We were leaving and the hosts walked us to the door where we recovered our shoes. At this point I thought this is where it ends. But as we moved outside the hosts followed and assisted us with getting a taxi. Once inside the taxi they waved goodbye and I thought surely this is where it ends. As the taxi drove off I decided to glace back and they were still waving until we were out of sight. This is only one example of many, and is partly why I find pleasure in visiting Japan.
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