Zen and the demise of old-school Japanese restaurants

Welcome back to my newsletter, and thanks ever so much for subscribing. With this still being a new endeavour, I’m in the process of trying to find the right style and tone, so until I get there, I hope you’ll continue to join me on the journey.

Old Tokyo bookshop

The temperatures really picked up in Tokyo around the middle of June, but before it got unbearably hot, I made a trip out to the far west of the city to once again photograph this stunning old bookshop. Trouble is it wasn’t there anymore, as it turns out it was demolished 18 months or so ago.

There’s a full write-up here, but the woman who lives opposite told me she now has a lovely view of the mountains. Scenery she enjoys every single day. Words that helped reinforce a mindset I’ve been trying to adopt in such situations for quite some time now.

Learning to be more zen

With so many old, Showa-era structures being demolished in Tokyo, it can get more than a little disheartening, but my aim over the last few years has, for want of a better description, to be more zen about it.

The Japanese capital has always been a city of change and regeneration, but at the same time I’m in the fortunate position of being able to experience and photograph places like the bookshop (and the yakitori take-out shop at the top of the page) before they get torn down. Something I’m learning to be thankful for instead of feeling disappointed by yet another disappearance.

The comfort of machi chuka restaurants

With that in mind then, this is a little series of machi chuka eateries.

They are a type of local, Japanese-style Chinese restaurant that were ubiquitous in the post-war period, but with the owners of such places invariably getting on in years, their numbers are declining. In fact quite a few of these no longer exist.

The memories of them, on the other hand, remain warm and comforting, just like the food served. Feelings that don’t fully mitigate the loss, but similar to the lady with her new view, they do help ease the disappointment.

All of which has made me crave my go-to machi chuka order of fried rice and gyoza. Simple food best enjoyed in such simple, unpretentious places.

Photowalks, prints and books

Lastly, for most of July I’ll be in Britain visiting family, so any print or book orders will be shipped as soon as I get back to Tokyo at the end of July.

I will, however, have full access to email, so I can quickly reply to any photowalk enquiries, and I’ll be available to conduct those again from August onwards.

Thanks again for being a part of this.

Cheers

Lee