It is though a part of the capital that keeps on giving, and wandering the area for just a few hours last week, I was reminded once again why I keep returning.

All of which brings me to the series shown here. A set of images from a small warren of interconnected Shinjuku alleyways that I’ve been photographing for a decade. And on a wander there last week, I took the opening photo. A shot I’ve long been hoping for, and the moment I pressed the shutter, it felt like the collection was complete. Or at least as complete as such a series can be. So for now at least, this is what I have. A little bit of Shinjuku from 2016 to 2026.

However, several weeks ago I took the first picture in this set, which piqued my interest and set me on a mission of sorts to get more, culminating in this little series. Something a bit different form my usual work, and to end the collection, there’s a similarly unusual photo of me. A portrait produced back in 2021.

That said, there is thankfully still a lot of history left to see and enjoy, so for something of a change from the more regular scenes of before and after, here are some survivors, all of which were shot very recently.

First is a traditional shoe shop that has been open for a century. It’s now in the hands of its 3rd generation owner, with the 4th already working there and preparing to take over.

Then there’s a similarly aged liquor store run by an 85-year-old who’s also the 3rd generation proprietor. For added interest, the building it’s housed in is even older. Quite something for a wooden structure, particularly so in a city that was heavily firebombed and is prone to both earthquakes and typhoons.

Lastly is a neighbourhood fishmonger that I first photographed in 2020, so I’ve included that shot as well — a memory that made seeing the place still operational even nicer.

The shop was founded by the current owner’s father in 1935. Sadly he died young, so his even younger son took over. That was in 1953, and now, 73 years later, that once fresh-faced youngster is still working there at the ripe old age of 89.

To be honest though I’ve become something a fair weather photographer, and the issues mentioned above are more than manageable. Something these photos hopefully prove. All of them taken on a recent walk when at times the rain turned out to be much heavier than forecast. They are also results I like, so maybe, just maybe, I’ll be a little less inclined to stay indoors the next time outdoors is a bit inclement.

Oh, and as a side note, for more old vending machines, my latest newsletter contains a whole host of them.

For now though, these are just a small set that document a meandering walk that while not entirely intentional, resulted in photos showing the quiet, faded and increasingly empty scenes one often sees in Japan. Sights that, as these amply prove, are in no way limited to more rural areas.

That said, the addition of a person in the frame is something I always hope for. Not just any old person either, but someone with at least some kind of visual association — no matter how tenuous that may be. It could be age, demeanour, or simply the colours they are wearing. An element that in one way or another complements the overall image.

These then are recently taken shots along those lines. Several of them feature places I’ve photographed before, whereas others are first time finds.

These then are images along those lines. Quiet frames that give at least some sense of the changes Tokyo is going through.

All that said, I also appreciate the look and imperfections of film, so I generally carry an old school camera in my bag as well. One that admittedly may not get used all that often, but one that is nonetheless always there. And so these then are some film photos taken in various abandoned places in and around Japan over the last 6 months or so. Moments when I remembered the camera was there, felt the shot was worthy, or simply had a day when I wanted to shoot more film.

Sadly that doesn’t mean old Osaka isn’t gradually disappearing, because it is — I just don’t get to revisit the same places as regularly as I do in Tokyo. That said, this particular scene caught my eye on a recent-ish walk there. It was the lady I recognised first. Stood in exactly the same spot as when I last saw her. Only this time, the old stationary shop on the corner wasn’t there anymore. The space it once occupied already being readied for its modern replacement.

On this occasion, however, there was still continuity, with the presence of both the woman and her fruit, vegetable and pickle selling near neighbour. The first three photos being before, and the latter three now. A now that will hopefully persist well into the future.

For a lot of my work that gets published, I choose the photos, and quite often the sequencing of them too. At other times, simply a single or small number of images are requested.

The process for The Vanishing World, however, was completely different, as the photographs were chosen without my input, which made seeing the resultant selection and the order they were arranged in genuinely interesting. They represent a far more objective take than I could ever manage, as invariably I have all kinds of associations with the photos I take.

A collection then that I’m very happy with. Only one photo was swapped out in the end, and that was for a similar shot from the same location.

The zine itself is also well made, dimensionally quite small (210mm x 148mm), but at the same packed with 25 photographs. Printed in the UK, it is available from Bump Books, but I have a limited number of signed copies available that I’m offering at a reduced price in combination with an A4 print of the overgrown car shot below — or a different print if you get in touch before ordering. Available from my shop here should you be interested, with free worldwide shipping included.

The weather was pretty much ideal most of the time, with light where and when we wanted it, along with a fresh layer of snow covering the traditional villages. We also met a whole host of interesting and friendly people, plus most importantly of all, the fellow photographers who joined us were the loveliest group we could have hoped for. The key ingredient that made the whole trip an absolute joy.

These then are just some of the photos I took along the way. A mixture of markets, old streets and arcades, plus in a break from the images I usually show, some non-urban landscapes. All of which we’ll visit again next year, so if you are interested in participating, keep an eye out for the upcoming dates and info.

It should be said that just like all the other visits, I wasn’t hassled at all for getting fairly close and taking photographs. No words at all were spoken. In fact there was barely even a dirty look. A lack of reaction that I do appreciate, especially as I am very visibly foreign..

All that said, this year felt slightly different. The country now has a new Prime Minister whose large majority signals a significant shift to the right, with constitutional revision among the many touted changes. A trend that arguably began in the previous election with gains for the then relatively unknown ‘Japanese First’ Sanseito party.

The group in the photos, of course, are way beyond anything in mainstream politics, but it did make me think about the potential changes to come, both in regards legislation, and daily life.

Now in its sixth decade, it’s possible the shop may still last many more years to come. At the same time, quite conceivably it could be gone next month. Even next week. For now though it happily remains. A sight to simply take in and thoroughly enjoy.

That said, with the view overlooking Shinjuku, it did make me think about all the time I’ve spent there over the years, along with the many photographs I’ve taken. A good few of which have become all time faves.

Thoughts then that resulted in this series. A ‘Shinjuku Best’ kind of collection. Or perhaps more accurately, the best at the present moment, as such tastes do tend to change over time. It was hard though whittling them down to a manageable number, so I decided to make this set the more cohesive sequence, and then put all of them together in my latest newsletter. It’s viewable here, and this is where you can subscribe if you’d like to.