Pix4Japan

2025-01-02

Silent Vigilance

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Silent Vigilance: The Imperial Guard of Japan’s Imperial Palace
静かなる威厳：正門石橋の皇宮警察

During my visit to Japan’s Imperial Palace in Tokyo, I encountered an imperial guard standing in silent vigilance before the massive main gate. His unwavering presence embodied the discipline and tradition that have safeguarded the palace for generations.

The Imperial Guard, officially established in 1886, is now a specialized division of the National Police Agency. Their primary duty is to protect the Emperor, Crown Prince, and other members of the Imperial Family, as well as imperial properties like the Tokyo Imperial Palace. Beyond security, their responsibilities extend to fire-fighting within the palace grounds—complete with their own fire engines and trained firefighters.

What surprised me most, however, was the breadth of their training. In addition to rigorous police instruction—covering judo, kendo, drills, and pistol handling—imperial guard recruits also study traditional Japanese arts such as waka (classical poetry), shodo (calligraphy), ikebana (flower arranging), and chado (the way of tea). English conversation is also part of their curriculum, highlighting the blend of tradition and modern needs.

Whether it’s a King’s Guard sentry at Buckingham Palace, a U.S. Marine at the White House, or a Swiss Guard at the Vatican, elite guards worldwide share a common thread—character, self-discipline, and an unwavering commitment to duty. Standing before this imperial sentry, I couldn’t help but admire the dedication required to uphold such a revered tradition.

Location: Imperial Palace, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo
Timestamp: 10:25・2025/01/02
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 160 for 1/450 sec. at ƒ/2.5
Provia/Standard film simulation

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Hinomaru

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Hinomaru Flag on New Year’s Day・お正月の「日の丸」

Although the Hinomaru (日の丸 / "Ball of the Sun") was officially designated as Japan’s national flag through legislation in 1999 as the Nisshōki (日章旗 / "Flag of the Sun"), it had already been in use for centuries. References to its iconic design date back as early as 645, with the first written record appearing in 797.

Regardless of the name used, one common thread is the symbolism of the sun, which has been deeply rooted in Japanese mythology and religious traditions since ancient times.

The first official use of the Hinomaru flag was during the Edo Period (1603–1868) when the Tokugawa Shogunate required Japanese merchant ships trading with countries such as Holland, China, the United States, and Russia to hoist the flag.

However, during Japan’s imperial expansion in the early 20th century, the Hinomaru became a symbol of militarism, leading to deep-rooted controversy in many parts of Asia.

After World War II, the Allied Occupation prohibited public display of the flag without permission from GHQ (General Headquarters). It wasn’t until 1949 that the restriction was lifted, allowing the Hinomaru to be flown again without special approval.

Today, I see thee flag on national holidays—waving in front of some homes in my neighborhood, adorning tiny bumper flags on my local commuter bus, and flying at government buildings, including my local ward office.

For many younger generations visiting Japan as tourists, the Hinomaru carries a different meaning from that of their grandparents. Rather than viewing it through the lens of history, they associate it with other national symbols of modern Japan—Mt. Fuji, bullet trains, cherry blossoms, sushi, temples, and shrines.

In contrast, most of my younger Japanese friends and family are largely indifferent to the flag. This apathy may stem, at least in part, from its overt use by nationalist groups, who can often be seen fanatically waving it on the streets of Yokohama, particularly in areas where large groups of tourists gather on weekends.

Personally, I’ve always appreciated the colors and patterns of various national flags. The Hinomaru, in particular, fascinates me as a photographic subject due to its simple, minimalist design and striking contrast.

Location: Imperial Palace, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo
Timestamp: 9:57・2025/01/02
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 160 for 1/2200 sec. at ƒ/8.0
Provia/Standard film simulation

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Kokyo-mae Hiroba

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Kokyo-mae Hiroba: From Samurai Mansions to Open Spaces
武家屋敷から開かれた広場へ：皇居前広場の歴史

I went on a photowalk at the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo on one of the rare occasions when the palace grounds were open to the public. This special access was for the official New Year’s greeting by the emperor.

While waiting in line to enter the inner courtyard, I captured this shot of the urban landscape—towering steel-and-glass office buildings rising with sharp, modern lines, contrasting against the neatly manicured lawns and sculpted curves of Japanese pine trees (matsu) under a crisp winter morning sky.

During the Edo Period (1603–1868), this area just outside the Edo Castle moat was lined with the grand mansions of feudal lords. When Japan transitioned from a military dictatorship to a constitutional monarchy during the Meiji Era (1868–1912), Prime Minister Hirobumi Ito confiscated these estates, replacing them with trees and open spaces. Over time, this transformation gave rise to the expansive plaza we see today, a serene green space in the heart of Tokyo.

Location: Imperial Palace, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo
Timestamp: 9:46・2025/01/02
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 320 for 1/900 sec. at ƒ/4.0
Provia/Standard film simulation

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2024-12-10

Ueno Station

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A bright afternoon view of a modern urban streetscape in Taito Ward, Tokyo, Japan, featuring a mix of contemporary office buildings, hotels, and commercial structures with a clear blue sky in the background. The elevated highway and distinctively shaped streetlight add depth to the cityscape.

Location: Ueno Station, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Timestamp: 15:05・2024/12/10
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 320 for 1/320 sec. at ƒ/8.0
Classic Chrome film simulation

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A late afternoon scene near Ueno Station in Taito Ward, Tokyo, Japan, capturing an urban pedestrian overpass with commuters walking and pausing to view the passing train on the Keihin-Tohoku Line. The backdrop features a mix of modern high-rise buildings, commercial signage, and the warm hues of autumn foliage under a clear blue sky.

Location: Ueno Station, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Timestamp: 15:06・2024/12/10
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 1250 for 1/250 sec. at ƒ/8.0
Classic Chrome film simulation

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A vibrant stained-glass mural inside Ueno Station in Tokyo, Japan, showcasing a colorful design of flowers, starry skies, and Japanese fans. The illuminated artwork adds a touch of artistry to the busy transit hub, while directional signs guide commuters to exits, subway lines, and nearby attractions.

Location: Ueno Station, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Timestamp: 15:09・2024/12/10
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 320 for 1/350 sec. at ƒ/2.2
Velvia/Vivid film simulation

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Intersection of Motion

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Layers of Motion: Tokyo’s Urban Flow from Above
交差する歴史：東山道から国道4号線へ

This intersection is a typical example of how multiple two-lane streets converge from three or more angles in Tokyo. It’s quite different from cities like Sapporo in Hokkaido or Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, where most streets that I have driven on follow a grid layout with clean 90-degree intersections.

Driving through central Tokyo—especially on a rainy night—can be daunting for the uninitiated. Navigating these multi-street intersections, where three or even five roads merge at a single point, requires careful attention.

In this photo, northbound traffic is zipping by on National Route 4, a toll-free highway that originates in Nihonbashi, Tokyo’s historic commercial district, and stretches 738.5 kilometers (458.9 miles) to the northern tip of Honshu. This makes it Japan’s longest national toll-free highway. Roughly half of Route 4 follows the path of the much older Tōsandō, a historic road dating back to the Asuka period (538–710).

Nihonbashi itself is named after a bridge located just a few blocks from the Imperial Palace. In 1604, the Tokugawa shogunate designated it as the starting point for major transportation routes. Later, during the Meiji era (1868–1912), it was officially recognized as the reference point for measuring distances on all national highways. Even today, when driving along these highways, you’ll notice slender signposts marking how far you are from the center of Nihonbashi Bridge.

Beneath the asphalt in this scene, Ueno Station’s Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line runs underground. In Tokyo and my home city of Yokohama, it’s common for stretches of subway lines to follow the same routes as surface-level streets, weaving through the dense metropolitan landscape.

Above me, where I took this shot, the Ueno Route of the Shuto Expressway runs overhead. This elevated toll road is part of a vast network of expressways looping around Tokyo, consisting mostly of overpasses that wind between high-rise office towers and apartment buildings, with occasional underpasses and tunnels.

I still remember my first drive on the Shuto Expressway in 1985, just after its circular loop was connected to the Joban Expressway in Saitama Prefecture. That night, five or six of my car-enthusiast friends and I took our tuned sports coupes and sedans onto the freshly paved expressway, enjoying the thrill of driving under a starry summer sky.

Even now, I find myself amazed by the ingenuity of the engineers who designed and built these transportation networks—stacking them high above the ground, threading them through the urban core at street level, and tunneling deep underground, all within the space constraints and astronomical costs of a city like Tokyo.

Location: Ueno Station, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Timestamp: 14:57・2024/12/10
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 160 for 1.0 sec. at ƒ/16
Pro Negative High film simulation

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Pachinko Symbol

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Urban Geometry: The Lines and Curves of Pachinko
東上野：パチンコ玉を象ったモニュメント

After a long meeting with a colleague near Ueno Station in Tokyo, Japan, I took a short break before heading back to my office in Yokohama. As I made my way back to the station, I took the opportunity to capture some street photography, documenting scenes around Ueno Station.

In this shot, standing at over 7 meters tall (more than 24 feet), is a striking stainless steel "U"-shaped sculpture crowned with a reflective steel sphere.

The "U" represents Ueno, a well-known district in Tokyo’s Taito Ward. The sphere on top? It’s designed to resemble a pachinko ball, a nod to one of Japan’s most popular mechanical arcade-style games. Pachinko involves launching small steel balls into a machine, with the goal of winning as many as possible. These balls can be exchanged for prizes, which—through a legal loophole—can then be exchanged for cash at offsite locations, sidestepping Japan’s strict gambling laws.

This sculpture isn’t just a random artistic installation—it reflects the deep-rooted connection between Higashi-Ueno and the pachinko industry. This area is home to a high concentration of pachinko machine manufacturers, many of whom have offices and showrooms here. Given that Ueno Station serves five bullet train lines, the location is ideal for industry professionals commuting between Tokyo and manufacturing hubs in other prefectures.

As a result, Higashi-Ueno has earned the nickname "Pachinko Village" among enthusiasts. The massive pachinko ball atop the "U" serves as a tribute to an industry that employs many in this neighborhood and attracts pachinko parlor owners looking to test and evaluate the latest gaming machines in nearby showrooms.

Location: Ueno Station, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Timestamp: 14:54・2024/12/10
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 160 for 1/30 sec. at ƒ/7.1
Classic Chrome film simulation

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Higashi-Ueno

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Urban Geometry: Lines and Shapes Beneath an Overpass

交差する線と形：上野の歩道橋の下で

After a long meeting with a colleague near Ueno Station in Tokyo, Japan, I took a short break before heading back to my office in Yokohama. As I made my way back to the station, I enjoyed some street photography, capturing scenes in the surrounding neighborhoods.

After photographing a Buddhist temple and two Shinto shrines, I approached the pedestrian overpass leading directly to Ueno Station.

As I climbed the steps to the pedestrian deck, this intricate scene beneath the overpass came into view—a striking mix of lines, angles, and contrasting round and flat shapes. With the original scene nearly devoid of color, I felt monochrome was the perfect choice to emphasize its geometric complexity.

Location: Ueno Station, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Timestamp: 14:53・2024/12/10
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 1600 for 1/30 sec. at ƒ/7.1
Acros film simulation

References:

Google Maps: Pedestrian Overpass Ueno Station・上野駅正面玄関口の横断歩道

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2025-01-02

Silent Vigilance: The Imperial Guard of Japan’s Imperial Palace静かなる威厳：正門石橋の皇宮警察

Hinomaru Flag on New Year’s Day・お正月の「日の丸」

Kokyo-mae Hiroba: From Samurai Mansions to Open Spaces武家屋敷から開かれた広場へ：皇居前広場の歴史

2024-12-10

Layers of Motion: Tokyo’s Urban Flow from Above交差する歴史：東山道から国道4号線へ

Urban Geometry: The Lines and Curves of Pachinko東上野：パチンコ玉を象ったモニュメント

Urban Geometry: Lines and Shapes Beneath an Overpass

交差する線と形：上野の歩道橋の下で

Silent Vigilance: The Imperial Guard of Japan’s Imperial Palace
静かなる威厳：正門石橋の皇宮警察

Kokyo-mae Hiroba: From Samurai Mansions to Open Spaces
武家屋敷から開かれた広場へ：皇居前広場の歴史

Layers of Motion: Tokyo’s Urban Flow from Above
交差する歴史：東山道から国道4号線へ

Urban Geometry: The Lines and Curves of Pachinko
東上野：パチンコ玉を象ったモニュメント