The Urban Landscapes of Yogyami

I’ve always found it quite exciting to gaze out across a city from above. The notion that so many mysteries and wonders and experiences are hidden within the seemingly impenetrable mass of concrete which stretches out to the horizon fascinates me. At any moment, a wealth of new and fascinating discoveries are waiting to be made. Or imagined.

Yet there’s a flip-side too – as much as a joyful sense of positive adventure is inspired, it’s simultaneously tinged with a slight sense of potential overwhelm – there’s just so much out there. The sheer enormity of this massive metropolis can almost feel intimidating and isolating at times.

Upon Spotting a Bird From a Distance

Some things are done differently in Japan.

A bird is standing on the road. You want to see it closer up.

In most places:

• Be very quiet.
• Approach slowly, indirectly.
• As much as possible, remain hidden.

In Japan:

• don’t.

 

Cones of Mystery

A small area cordoned off by cones in Nakano, for no immediately obvious reason.

Tokyo Night Views

Tokyo, a truly spectacular city by night.

The incredible density of buildings seen above is but a tiny fragment from the full city-wide view (below). The sheer size of the city seen from such a height is staggering, with an ocean of lights stretching away to become a blur on the horizon, each individual light signifying a house, an office, a shop, a street scene, a car.

And wherever there are lights, there are people. Within this photograph alone, unseen but present, close to ten million!

Warm Night, Looking East.

It’s humbling to witness. Humbling yet at the same time inspiring and elevating, to feel both one’s complete insignificance, and the freedom that signifies.

The only times I recall experiencing similar feelings were standing looking out across the Indian Himalayas, and gazing into the deep night sky above a vast desert – the only difference being that in those places one feels humbled by nature’s magnitude, whereas here it’s all man-made.

Moments of wonder.

(click all images to enlarge)

Looking West After Storm, Dusk.

Wibbly Wobbly Alien

Sign painted on the ground at Toyocho, Tokyo.

A child’s friend or something rather more sinister?