The 28mm has always been my favourite lens for capturing crowds. It lets you frame plenty of action without introducing too much distortion. During my years living in Tokyo I relied on it a lot, often keeping it mounted on my Nikon FM2n by default.
In that vast, vibrant metropolis, there was always something visually compelling to discover. I used to take visiting friends and family on a day tour that began in Asakusa, included the water bus ride along Sumida River, and continued all the way to the artificial white-sanded beach of Odaiba – a quick journey from the old to the new and futuristic, so characteristic of Japan.
At the heart of it all were the people. Though overwhemingly numerous, what stood out the most to me was the incredible diversity of styles and subcultures within what Aso Taro, the former Japanese communications minister, described as “one nation, one language and one race”. Perhaps this photogenic manifestation reflects a common desire to take a break from Japan’s prevalent social conformity, cultural traditions, and from the pressures of an increasingly consumerist society by expressing one’s true self to the fullest.
As the proverb goes, “the nail that sticks out gets hammered in”. But people are not nails.
All images made with Nikon FM2n + Nikkor 28mm/f2.8 + Kodak Tri-x 400. Scanned from gelatin-silver prints.
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Gary Smith on Tokyoites 2007~2009
Comment posted: 09/04/2026
There certainly seem to be a lot of men dressed in dresses in your shots above!