Tokyo’s unique status as a city where ancient traditions collide with a playful form of retro-futurism is explored in a new photo book by Hong Kong-based photographer Paul Bradshaw.
One of the 74 black-and-white images from the book Tokyo by Paul Bradshaw.
The book, simply titled Tokyo, was recently published in a limited series of 100 signed and numbered copies, and features 74 black-and-white images that shy away from the brightly coloured, postcard-style images often used to represent the city.
A street procession in Tokyo. Photo: Paul Bradshaw
“Tokyo is one of my favourite cities and I was keen to produce a series of photos exploring what makes it such a special place,” says Bradshaw, who hails from York in the UK. “The mixture of different cultural elements and influences in Japan’s capital city seems to have produced a style which is unique to itself.
Good times in a yakitori restaurant. Photo: Paul Bradshaw
“I was particularly drawn to the tiny yakitori restaurants and bars that are clustered together in the alleys and archways around some of the main train stations. The people who frequented these places were especially interesting – once they left the main streets and entered these tucked-away areas they seemed to let their guard down, relax and become happy.
Spoilt for choice in a Tokyo back street. Photo: Paul Bradshaw
“It felt as though each of these small pockets of hospitality provided a sense of community within the otherwise anonymous lifestyle of the vast metropolis.”
Human cargo on a Tokyo train. Photo: Paul Bradshaw
