Tokyo – Page 3 – Shutterbugged

Intl Saturdays 29: Landing

February 15, 2013August 26, 2018Posted in UncategorizedTagged aircraft landing, airport, International Saturdays, JAL, Japan Airlines, Narita airport, planes, TokyoLeave a comment

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Ciao

Intl Saturdays 28: When in Tokyo, make friends with this!

February 8, 2013August 26, 2018Posted in UncategorizedTagged Daily Life, Japan Railway, JR, railway station, subway station, ticket vending machine, Tokyo, Tokyo Subway2 Comments

It may look insanely intimidating, but is not really that hard to get around it. The ticket vending machines at the Tokyo subway stations are things you should get familiar with if you expect to travel economically within this city. Economical with respect to the taxis there, but not really economical in the true sense of the word. The minimum fare when i was there last year was 160 Yen which comes to around Rs. 95!

With as many as 13, yes THIRTEEN different railway lines, the metro is indeed the best way to get around Tokyo. And don’t sweat if you have a hard time finding your correct station. I was helped out by the locals, on three occasions in two days, without me even asking for help. People in Tokyo are really really helpful and will go out of their way to ensure you get the right ticket for the right location. Some will even escort you to the correct platform and see you off. This happened twice with me.

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Ciao

Intl Saturdays 27: Harajuku Girl 2

February 1, 2013August 26, 2018Posted in UncategorizedTagged Daily Life, Harajuku, headgear, Japan, Japanese culture, maid cafe, street photography, streetscapes, style, Tokyo, traffic signal2 Comments

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Ciao

Intl Saturdays 24: Club Sega

January 12, 2013August 26, 2018Posted in UncategorizedTagged Club Sega, International Saturdays, Japan, Japanese culture, Sega, Shibuya, street, Tokyo, video gamesLeave a comment

Now we’re talking!

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Ciao

Intl Saturdays 22: PUNX

December 29, 2012Posted in UncategorizedTagged Daily Life, Harajuku, International Saturdays, Japan, Japanese punk, punk, street photography, street portrait, TokyoLeave a comment

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Intl Saturdays 21: The Harajuku Boy

December 22, 2012August 26, 2018Posted in UncategorizedTagged Daily Life, Harajuku, International Saturdays, Japan, markets, street photography, street portrait, Tokyo3 Comments

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Intl Saturdays 20: The Otaku Edition

December 15, 2012August 26, 2018Posted in UncategorizedTagged Akihabara, culture, Daily Life, gamers, International Saturdays, Japan, Japanese culture, nerds, otaku, street photography, Tokyo2 Comments

After getting overwhelmed at the Akihabara mall which houses anything and everything you can think of in terms of electronic gadgets, i exited through a gate which gave me this sight. Now being a tech scribe, i know what it is to be obsessed with a game and all that, but in my case at least, it’s limited to when i am sitting in front of a system at home (or office, Yes gaming is a part of the office culture and not frowned upon). Generally my type of gaming is in isolation. My office pals do indulge in LAN gaming with Quake, Tribes Ascend, Counter Strike, but i’ve realised that i am not really great at these games. I am more of the Max Payne, Hitman, Mafia third-person shooter type of gamers.

Bottomline: Gaming is not really mainstream here.

Here though i was fascinated to see the obsessive gaming at a group level. These nerds, popularly called Otakus can be found all over Japan. At Akihabara in particular, it just makes sense for these gamers to gather and try out the latest games that they have just purchased. I did notice a lot of old-style GameBoys in the crowd. (This is one thing i fell in love with about Japan: a respect and loyal following of everything retro, whether it’s old-world gaming pads or film photography. You just know that these cultures will never die in the Land of the Rising Sun.)

Even while all of them were engrossed in their game, they still had the sensibility to leave enough space on the pavement for passersby. You can’t help but smile:)

Take Care,
Ciao

Intl Saturdays 16: Juxtaposition in Tokyo

November 17, 2012August 26, 2018Posted in UncategorizedTagged BW photography, contrast juxtaposition, Daily Life, Imperial palace, International Saturdays, Japan, Japanese culture, Old world, street, Tokyo, urban spaces, urbanscapesLeave a comment

Barring the Imperial Palace, there are very few places left in Tokyo which are reminiscent of an old era. (Let’s add the Yakotori alley to that list (will put up its picture some other day)). Most of old Tokyo was wiped out during the WWII. What you get to see in Tokyo now are structures which are not older than say 40-50 years (at least in the major part of Tokyo AFAIK).

Although Japan still has the King and the Queen, they are just that in name. They do not have any say in political matters as such. They still live in a palace, which is in the middle of Tokyo surrounded by lovely open spaces and greenery. I just loved the sound while walking on the pebbly, gravel-ly path that lead upto the Imperial palace gates.

This is the only frame where i could manage to capture the contrast of the old against the new (one of my favourite things whenever i am in any city. There is just something about the era gone past. The Golden Age syndrome some call it, of which i am a surefire victim).

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Ciao

Intl Saturdays 15: Cuteness

November 10, 2012August 26, 2018Posted in UncategorizedTagged cute Japanese kids, Daily Life, decisive moment, Japan, kids, street photography, TokyoLeave a comment

Asakusa temple premise is buzzing with people. When i came out of the temple from the side and was going to capture it, i noticed this family exiting the temple as well. I really liked the expression on the lil one’s face and the insane detailing in her shoes and socks and the lovely hair. It was cuteness personified. And i really was lucky to have the baby stare right at me:)

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Ciao

Intl Saturdays 14: The Nut Seller

November 3, 2012August 26, 2018Posted in UncategorizedTagged Asakusa temple, Daily Life, Japan, portrait, street, street photography, street portrait, TokyoLeave a comment

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Ciao