Tokyo Calling (2025)

First, a quick update — I’ve recently switched my website (​​LASTLIGHTS.NET​​) to a simple one-page, Linktree-style site using Carrd. With this revamp, my past posts are no longer accessible, so I’ll occasionally be sharing some of my favorite pieces from the archives (lightly rewritten).

To start, here’s “Tokyo Calling (2025)”, originally posted last year. I’m bringing this one back because a sequel is on the way. 😅

Tokyo Calling (2025)

Born and raised in a small city in the western part of Japan, I had a huge longing for Tokyo, as it was the center of everything happening in Japan.

Back in my teenage years (late 1980s to early 1990s), there was no Internet, so places like Shibuya only existed on TV, in books, and in song lyrics. 😅

Whenever a place in Tokyo was mentioned (like Shimo-Kitazawa, a.k.a. Shimokita), I often wondered what it was like and felt thrilled imagining myself walking there one day.

My First Encounter With Tokyo

So, when I finally visited Tokyo at 20 years old, I was in complete awe! Just walking the streets of Shibuya made me feel cool (even though I was a typical uncool kid 🤣). I always felt this same excitement whenever I revisited Tokyo in my 20s.

I even considered moving to Tokyo for university or work, but in the end, I never did. Maybe I felt a sense of intimidation or reverence toward one of the biggest metropolises in the world.

Then, by a twist of fate, I left Japan in early 2000 and have been living overseas for 20+ years now. During that time, I visited Tokyo only once, in 2008, but it was just for a few days to attend a friend’s wedding, so I didn’t get to see places like Shibuya. 🥲

Back in Tokyo With a New Purpose

For all these years I’ve been living in Singapore, I’ve traveled to Japan a few dozen times, but somehow always avoided Tokyo for some reasons. That said, as a cityscape photography enthusiast, Tokyo isn’t a city you can ignore forever. Then, earlier this year, I finally made a solo trip to Tokyo, my first visit in 17 years. My main purpose, of course, was to capture Tokyo’s cityscapes with my Nikon Z 6II📸, as it was my first time there since picking up photography as a hobby.

Since I only shot in the evenings, I had plenty of free time during the day, so I made my way to Shibuya, drawn by a vivid memory of one particular place called Shibuya Center-Gai.

Nostalgia and the Passage of Time

Walking through the streets of Shibuya after 30 or so years, I found myself riding a wave of nostalgia. Every corner brought back forgotten memories and made me reflect on the past three decades of my life.

So much has happened in the past 30 years, most of it rather unexpected. My 20-year-old self never could have imagined leaving Japan and living overseas for this long! 😮

Tokyo Calling: A Story Still Waiting to Unfold

Like many Japanese people, I’ve always dreamed of living in Tokyo at least once in my life. And now, as a cityscape photography enthusiast, that desire has only grown stronger, as Tokyo is truly a paradise for capturing stunning urban landscapes. 🌇

Once I retire, I’m hoping to fulfill my dream of living in Tokyo for at least a year, capturing all the cityscapes it offers. Until then, I’ll let Tokyo keep calling.

My Photos Are Now on Glass 🎉

I recently set up a gallery on Glass, a platform designed for photographers who want a clean, distraction-free place to present their work. You’ll find many of my favorite photos there — from blue hour cityscapes to cat photos. 🐈 Take a look here: https://glass.photo/lastlightsnet​

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