Friday 26 June 2009

Concrete Jungle




Bought a new Pentax lens a few months ago.
These pics are a few early shots I did.
Taken from the back view of my apartment, I was giving the 100-300mm range a workout.
I live about 6 minutes or so from Koenji station. The train tracks are visible above ground.
With this lens I can catch the trains rushing between the buildings.

Monday 22 June 2009

Vids

I took some videos around Koenji.
Rather than upload them and make this page heavier, check out the youtube link.
So far, I've only uploaded a few videos of last years Awaodori.
I'm in the process of making a contraption to fix my trusty Casio Exilim to the front of my bike to do a few recorded rides around the streets of Koenji.
As with most things with me, it might take me a while...

Here's the link so far:

http://www.youtube.com/user/koenjilive

The Happiness Realisation Party


So, today, this van made it's way to Koenji for a political speech.
I was just passing by it on the South side of the station.

Thought the name was very imaginative in that "Engrish" kind of way.

If I could, they'd get my vote.

edit:
After reading about them, maybe they wouldn't get my vote.
Good name though.

Saturday 20 June 2009

The Gate




This shop sells new and used clothes, trainers, toys and accessories.
It looks small from the outside, but large inside. Perhaps like Dr. Who's Tardis, but without a metal dog.
It does have a 7-foot Alien inside the entrance though.
Bit of a maze as you navigate your way through racks of clothes and boxes of toys and assorted junk.
Until I take another pic of the exterior, it's the place with the pink chair in the shape of a hand at the entrance.

Some camera phone pics from inside at the top.

Iron





Theme of this post is "iron".
Corrugated iron at a window.
Demolition in progress.
Tagged iron door.

Saturday 13 June 2009

Towels, bikes and graffiti collaboration


Apart from livehouses(small bar-type venues that feature live bands) and unique fashion sense, nothing sums Koenji up better than dimly-lit back streets and lots of tagging.

Beautiful.

Bus stop


Ongoing construction is taking place on the North side of Koenji station.
It's been going on for a long while actually...could be about a year.
An expansion of current bus stops and pathways is the idea...
Occasionally, the construction company will put an inflatabale something or other up on a pole.
There was a bear, Father Christmas - at Christmas, of course, and this bee.
What purpose they serve, I have no idea, but Ive never seen another company do it this way.
The Koenji influence is strong.

Tuesday 9 June 2009

Tokyo's ghetto





Tokyo doesn't really have a ghetto in the real sense of the word.
There are some rundown areas in Koenji, though.
Nothing too shabby, but places with character, as I like to refer to them.
Perhaps, like me, you imagine/imagined Tokyo to be high tech with swanky boutiques and flashing neon everywhere.
Places like Koenji, Nakano, and Shimokitazawa go against the grain to present the real Tokyo.