I took a couple of impromptu portraits while in Tokyo. In both cases, it was older gentlemen, who then proceeded to show me around in a way that seemed like they either rarely get visitors or simply have immense pride in what they operate - maybe both.

I was ending a long day touring around Setagaya, Shimokitazawa, Kichijoji, and Mitaka. I had a few shots left on a roll of Cinestill 400D, and I stumbled upon what seemed like a kind of junk yard. As I paced about the front perimeter wondering how I might shoot the visual feast that lay in front to me, a man approached me smiling and gesturing to his yard, so I pulled out my phone and translated that I’d like to take some photos if he didn’t mind. He nodded yes and proceeded to gently grab my arm and show me around the whole place.

I did my best to translate on the fly what he was saying, it was very hard to keep up, he clearly had things to show me and stories to tell. When he found out I was from Canada, he pulled me into a darkened space in the corner and showed me a gigantic mounted moose head sat in a corner that he received as a gift from a friend years ago. He explained that he fixes up everything I see in his yard and resells it. He showed me how he got a giant restaurant grill back up and running and how he even repairs woven baskets that have seen better days. Truly a man of many skills.

After about 20 minutes, with the sun starting to set behind the tall buildings in the area and me with what looked like one shot left on the counter, I asked him if he minded if I took a photo of him. He was taken aback, he gestured to his chest as if to say why would anyone want a photo of me? I simply said that I’d like to remember our conversation and so he took a few more steps back in behind some sake barrels and I snapped the photo you see here. As the shutter released, I heard the deafening stall of the last frame not fully advancing as it began to auto wind back into the film canister. I had no more film on me that day and no digital camera. I thought at best I might have a halfsie, but in portrait orientation that may mean only half a person in the frame before the film burn sets in.

Luckily, as you can see, that was not the case at all. And now I have this great memory of a nice time with a very nice stranger in Tokyo, Japan.

Shot w/ my Nikon F80 and 50mm 1.8.