The Tokyo Snap

Street Snap #66 The Last Days of Seibu Shibuya | GR IV

Dean — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 14:36:10 +0000

Seibu Shibuya, a department store near Shibuya Station, closed on September 30, 2026. After 58 years in operation, it had long held a place in the fabric of Shibuya. As the city continues to undergo major change, Seibu Shibuya brought its own history to a close.

Buildings A and B were completed in 1968 and designed by Shimizu Corporation. Facing each other across Inokashira-dori, the two buildings were distinguished by their white lattice-like facades and the elevated passageway connecting them.

I happened to be in Shibuya on both the day before and the day of the closure, and photographed mainly the exterior. The words “THE LAST” were displayed across the facades and entrances, signaling that the familiar buildings were about to close. With redevelopment planned for the site, I recorded the final appearance of the buildings while they were still operating as Seibu Shibuya.

For this series, I chose the GR IV’s “Standard” image control and recorded the scene in its natural colors.

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Street Snap #65 Nakagusuku Castle Ruins, Okinawa | GR IV

Dean — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 14:50:08 +0000

I visited Nakagusuku Castle Ruins, a World Heritage Site in Nakagusuku Village, Okinawa. This gusuku castle was built beginning around the 14th century, and in 1853 an expedition from Commodore Perry’s fleet also visited the site and is said to have highly praised its sophisticated stonework.

Walking through the ruins, what struck me most was not simply their historical significance, but the form of the stone walls themselves. Rather than enclosing the site in straight lines, the walls curve gently along the terrain and overlap in layers, changing dramatically depending on where they are viewed from. The texture of the stacked stones and their contrast with the open sky above were also particularly striking.

The sunlight was intense on the day of my visit, casting deep shadows across the uneven surfaces and curves of the stone walls. The strong light made their outlines and overlapping forms more distinct, bringing the shapes of Nakagusuku Castle Ruins into even sharper relief.

For this series, I chose the Hard Monotone Image Control on the GR IV. Its strong contrast clearly emphasized the light and shadow created across the ruins by Okinawa’s intense sunlight.

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Street Snap #64 Azabudai Hills and Tokyo Tower | GR III

Dean — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 13:17:56 +0000

I visited Azabudai Hills, a newly completed development near Tokyo Tower. Like Roppongi Hills and Toranomon Hills, it is one of Mori Building’s large-scale redevelopment projects bearing the “Hills” name.

I began by photographing Tokyo Tower from nearby, then walked on toward Azabudai Hills. The low-rise section, designed by London-based Heatherwick Studio, is characterized by frames that trace organic curves, creating a distinctive architectural design rarely seen in Japan. The buildings are arranged three-dimensionally across a site with varying elevations, surrounded by a landscape rich in greenery. I could also see Tokyo Tower reflected in the glass of the buildings.

From a little farther away, the architecture appears as part of a landscape integrated with the planting and changes in ground level. Up close, carefully considered details come into view. From small scale to large, the impression changes depending on where you stand, giving the architecture many different aspects to explore.

This series was photographed some time ago using the RICOH GR III rather than the GR IV, with the “Standard” image control applied. I wanted to capture not only the newly completed architecture itself, but also the people walking through and gathering there, preserving the scenery of Azabudai Hills and Tokyo Tower as a series of snapshots. ■

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Street Snap #63 Naminoue Shrine and Naminoue Beach, Naha, Okinawa | GR IV

Dean — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 07:50:33 +0000

I visited Naminoue Shrine in Naha, Okinawa. The exact date of its founding is unclear, though one theory dates it to 1384, making it one of Okinawa’s historic shrines.

Adjacent to Naminoue Shrine is Naminoue Beach, the closest beach to central Naha and a lively place that is always busy with visitors.

For this series, I photographed Naminoue Shrine and Naminoue Beach under clear skies. I was struck by the shrine, where a distinctly Okinawan character could be felt within its solemn atmosphere, as well as by the rugged rock face visible from the beach. At the same time, the sight of an elevated roadway running right beside the calm beach also caught my attention.

For this series, I chose the Positive Film image control on the GR IV. The strong contrast created by Okinawa’s intense sunlight sharply defined the light and shadow across Naminoue Shrine and the rock face. ■

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Street Snap #62 National Theatre Okinawa by Shin Takamatsu | GR IV

Dean — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 16:35:20 +0000

I visited the National Theatre Okinawa in Urasoe. Designed by Shin Takamatsu and completed in 2003, the theatre was a building I had visited once before, but I wanted to photograph it again and preserve a record of it.

No performances were taking place on the day of my visit, and the theatre was quiet. The PC panels draw on motifs from traditional Okinawan houses, and the walls that curve sharply upward were particularly striking.

Under Okinawa’s intense sunlight, sharply defined areas of light and shadow appeared across the walls. The form of the rising walls and the strength of the shadows cast upon them stood out clearly.

For this series, I chose the Positive Film image control on the GR IV. It suited the strong contrast of Okinawa under clear skies and the crisp light and shadow created across the architecture. ■

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Street Snap #61 Kokusai Street, Okinawa Naha, June 2026 | GR IV

Dean — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 14:49:29 +0000

I walked along Kokusai Street, one of Naha’s best-known tourist destinations, and photographed the area. Souvenir shops line both sides of the street, while large numbers of visitors pass through from day to night. It is one of the busiest places in Naha, attracting people from both Japan and abroad.

The shops along Kokusai Street gradually change over time, with new businesses continuing to appear. Even so, the street still retains the character of a long-established tourist destination. I found Kokusai Street particularly interesting for the way its changing storefronts coexist with traces of the familiar street that people have known for many years.

For this series, I walked along the same street from daytime into the evening, photographing it at different hours. I used the GR IV with the “Negative Film” image control. Its slightly restrained colors and subtly nostalgic texture suited the scenes of Kokusai Street, where the character of an older tourist district still remains. ■

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Street Snap #60 Shinjuku Station Construction, June 2026 | GR IV

Dean — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 19:24:27 +0000

I once again walked around Shinjuku Station to document its constantly changing construction landscape. Although not much time had passed since my previous visit, the scenery around the station had already changed significantly.

What struck me most was the vast construction site excavated deep beneath the station. Several cranes stood above it as work continued far below ground. It felt as though the inner workings of the city, which will be hidden once construction is complete, had temporarily revealed themselves.

In this area, buildings and streets that have remained since the Showa era intersect with the new Shinjuku that is now taking shape. Each visit reveals a different landscape. I want to continue photographing Shinjuku Station regularly, recording not only its completed form but also its present state in the midst of transformation.

For this series, I used the Hard Monotone Image Control on the GR IV. By capturing the overlapping structures, construction sites, and passing crowds in black and white, I felt that the strength and disorder of Shinjuku emerged more clearly. Shinjuku simply suits monochrome. ■

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Street Snap #59 KYOTOGRAPHIE 2026: Architecture and Photography, Day 3

Dean — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:31:39 +0000

This is the third and final part of a three-part photo record from my visits to the venues of KYOTOGRAPHIE 2026.

On the final day, I first visited Lebohang Kganye’s “Rehearsal of Memory” at Higashi Honganji O-genkan. After that, since I had seen most of the KYOTOGRAPHIE venues I wanted to visit, I decided to spend the rest of the day walking around Kyoto with a focus on temples. I headed to Sanjusangen-do and Tofukuji, both of which I had visited before. At Sanjusangen-do, I wanted to see once again, with my own eyes, the overwhelming space filled with a thousand Buddhist statues. At Tofukuji, I wanted to revisit the Hojo Garden by Mirei Shigemori.

After that, I saw the special exhibition “Kitano Tenjin” at the Kyoto National Museum, which happened to be on view at the time. Some parts of the day could not be photographed, but I was able to keep them clearly as my own experience. Finally, before heading home, I photographed Kyoto Station again, the station building designed by Hiroshi Hara.

The final day moved from a KYOTOGRAPHIE exhibition venue to temples, a museum, and Kyoto Station. Rather than focusing only on exhibitions, it became a record of walking through Kyoto while looking again at places I had visited before, each with its own scale, history, and atmosphere.

The photos are arranged in the order in which I visited the venues over the three days. Day 3 records the time I spent at Higashi Honganji O-genkan, Sanjusangen-do, Tofukuji, the Kyoto National Museum, and Kyoto Station. ■

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Street Snap #58 KYOTOGRAPHIE 2026: Architecture and Photography, Day 2

Dean — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 16:09:09 +0000

This is the second part of a three-part photo record from my visits to the venues of KYOTOGRAPHIE 2026.

On the second day, I visited Thandiwe Muriu’s “Camo” and Federico Estol’s “Shine Heroes” at Kondaya Genbei, Linder Sterling’s “LINDER: GODDESS OF THE MIND” at The Museum of Kyoto Annex, and Juliette Agnel’s “Scents of Light” at Yuhisai Koudoukan.

The day took me through spaces that carry different layers of Kyoto’s history: Kondaya Genbei, with its deep connection to textile culture; The Museum of Kyoto Annex, a modern building from the Meiji period; and Yuhisai Koudoukan, which preserves the memory of an Edo-period academy. Vivid colors, collage, fiction, and traces of light and plants. Each exhibition offered a different form of expression, and as those works met the architecture and light of each venue, the experience of looking at photography itself seemed to change.

The photos are arranged in the order in which I visited the venues over the three days. Day 2 records the time I spent at Kondaya Genbei, The Museum of Kyoto Annex, and Yuhisai Koudoukan. ■

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Street Snap #57 KYOTOGRAPHIE 2026: Architecture and Photography, Day 1

Dean — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 17:37:35 +0000

This is Day 1 of a three-part record of the venues I visited during KYOTOGRAPHIE 2026.

Scattered throughout Kyoto, some of these exhibition spaces are historic buildings that are rarely open to the public, each carrying its own sense of time. Rather than documenting the works directly, I focused on the architecture, light, materials, and circulation of the spaces in which they were presented. As the works and their surroundings came together temporarily, the buildings revealed expressions that are not usually visible.

The photographs are presented in the order in which I visited the venues over three days. Day 2 and Day 3 will follow.

On the first day, I visited Jushin Kaikan for Yves Marchand & Romain Meffre’s The Shape of What Remains, the Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art for Daido Moriyama’s A Retrospective, and Hachiku-an for Fatma Hassona’s The eye of Gaza and A4 Arts Foundation’s Photo book! Photo-book! Photobook! ■

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