Old Tokyo

January 3, 2005 6:26 AM

Old Tokyo. Photographs from the early decades of the twentieth century.
posted by plep (12 comments total)

Gorgeous.
posted by kozad at 7:32 AM on January 3, 2005

Wonderful! I love stuff like this.
posted by 327.ca at 7:49 AM on January 3, 2005

Very nice, cheers plep!
posted by carter at 9:36 AM on January 3, 2005

... another jewel from plep, thanks!
posted by madamjujujive at 9:44 AM on January 3, 2005

Lovely. Thanks plep.
posted by arse_hat at 10:19 AM on January 3, 2005

I still can't believe they knocked down Frank Lloyd Wright's Imperial Hotel. It looks fantastic. Though it seems it was another high maintenance Wright building which looked great but eventually became quite unlivable.

It surprises me how wide the streets are in these postcards. There are even trees lining the main street in Ginza! These Western districts seem very planned and orderly compared to the mishmash of traditional Japan.

While it is a shame than Tokyo is so cavalier in its destruction of the old, I'm continuously surprised at the things which do remain intact; you often stumble across little shopping alleys and houses squeezed between office buildings which have somehow managed to survive.
posted by dydecker at 10:53 AM on January 3, 2005

Superb.
posted by apocalypse miaow at 12:31 PM on January 3, 2005

Interesting to look at these hand-colored images alongside cherry blossom photos, a lesson in pink, memory, and retailing.

Thank you.
posted by Julie at 12:44 PM on January 3, 2005

[?? ??????? miraculous; wonderful]
posted by languagehat at 2:48 PM on January 3, 2005

thanks! great post. a japan i will never know, but able to make me miss japan nevertheless.
posted by RockyChrysler at 8:56 PM on January 3, 2005

Damn this is a good link.
posted by orange clock at 9:32 PM on January 3, 2005

Really really good link. Thank you!
posted by litlnemo at 10:19 PM on January 3, 2005