It's darkest under the tower rather than the lamp.
This is the ancestor of Tokyo Sky Tree and rarely visited by Tokyo people.

The second edition of Tokyo Exposure with Leica is brought to you by Akio Inden, born in 1958. Did you notice something? Yes, Tokyo Tower was also born in 1958. So what? This time I'm walking around the Tokyo Tower and its neighborhood. It's a wonderful area to walk because the tower still has a presence as a symbol and a tourist spot of Tokyo and the neighborhood has the taste of Showa. Which camera should I bring? As it happens, Tokyo Tower and I were born in the same year, so I picked my birth year Leica M2 made in 1958. I'll use it for shooting monochrome films because it doesn't have a light meter. What about the second camera? For shooting color films, I picked the Leica MP with a light meter and this was made in the year my son was born. Now, I'm ready to go with this two parent and child Leicas.

The one on the left is the Leica M2 made in 1958. It has the rewind push-button and the frameline illumination window has a finer facets. The blue strap is in Leica's current accessory lineup. I use soft leather straps because I wind them around my wrist. The one of the right is the Leica MP made in my son's birth year. Although it has a classic appearance, the built-in light meter is impressively accurate when the standard 50mm lens is mounted, adding confidence in determining exposure.

The start point is Kamiya-Cho Station of the Eidan subway and I go south on Sakurada-Dori heading for Tokyo Tower. Once you turn from the main street and hop into the neighborhood, you'll find it incredibly quiet for an urban area.



Large size

Now, I can see the Tokyo Tower. I heard the tip is bent a little and it was true. How mysterious.





Arrived at the Tokyo Tower. Piggybacks and commemorative photo taking with the mascot. They are still unchanged. I hope this nice atmosphere will remain without losing against the Tokyo Sky Tree.
Snapshooting and female assistant
This time I walked with a female assistant who has been working for 3 years. It's nice to walk around alone, but I need someone to have a beer together... no, that's not the point. Now, people are becoming more cautious when, for example, their children were photographed. I try to look serious and sincere when I take photography, but it's not always easy. But, if I'm with a lady with a camera, I can shoot very naturally because she relaxifies the atmosphere. Maybe, I'm being too much worried, but it's always the best to ask for a permission before shooting. Also, they feel more relieved if you can show some of the pictures you have taken (I do it by my iPad).



I didn't check where the sun sets, but luckily it set parallel to the road. Maybe it was because the air was cleaner on Saturday, the evening sun was stretched fully on the road and it empowered the pictures.






In the remaining gentle light, I felt relaxed and took this shot. Leica's gentle shutter sound and feel are perfect for a scene like this.




At an Izakaya (Japanese-style bar), "Tsurunoya." I often use here with young photographers and talk a lot about photography. Maybe it's because of the atmosphere which is always crowded with Keio University students.
It's a father's little dream.
How was the second edition with the birthday Leicas? I was happy because I was able to shoot the neighborhood of Tokyo Tower where the taste of Showa still remains. You think you know the city, but you always find something new if you walk around taking some time.

I got my son's birth year Leica MP brand new and I've been shooting him with it since he was a small child. And, I plan to give it to him when he becomes an adult. Then, he will keep shooting his child with this camera and will give it to him/her saying, "This is my birth year Leica." This is a Leica dream. What else can make me dream such a dream?

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