1991 Ikebukuro, Hibarigaoka, Takadanobaba, Etc.; 2014 Tokyo Station, Tachikawa, Shinjuku, Etc.

Views of 1991 and 2014 Tokyo - with most of the 1991 views in this batch being train views, but one 30-minute video details a long walkabout I did in Takadanobaba - on the west side of Takadanobaba Station.  Also from 1991 is a view of my S-VHS tape deck running with the cover off - which looks weird now, but seemed like high-tech at the time.

Coming back to 2014, most of the videos are train based views taken as I went about town.  In the middle of the 2014 views are three views of Shinjuku from 2013 that had been sleeping in a camera I don't often use.  These were recorded at 15fps, so at 30fps playback, they are double speed (with no sound track).

I'll add more comments after some of the titles and links below.

1991 池袋駅-五反田駅-西馬込駅など Ikebukuro to Nishi-Magome Etc 910711
http://youtu.be/pyaCokjm8DY

Nothing particularly exciting in this one content-wise, but by July 1991, I had been taking video for about 17 months, and I personally think I did a decent job of in-camera editing with this.

1991 西馬込駅-五反田駅-池袋駅-ひばりヶ丘駅 Nishi-Magome-Gotanda-Hibarigaoka 910711
http://youtu.be/zpAESrKZPWc

1991 Hibarigaoka RR-Crossing ひばりが丘の踏切 910711
http://youtu.be/vPFScQacbo8

This is still a common sight in some areas of Tokyo, but increasingly they're either elevating the rails or putting them underground, so there are fewer crossings like this than there used to be.

1991 ひばりが丘散歩 Hibarigaoka Walkabout 910712
http://youtu.be/GzkhvvPK6Bs

A suburb of Tokyo, with some rustic elements.  There has been a fair amount of development of the station and the area around the station since this was taken.

1991 Old Type Red Arrow Zooms Past 昔のレッドアローが通ります 910712
http://youtu.be/pAH1L8GFYbI

This is the real deal - it's confusing lately as they have a newer version Red Arrow train painted in the old paint scheme, but the type of Red Arrow train captured in this video isn't running any longer (not on the Seibu rails in any case, I don't know if they sold the train cars to another company or not).

1991 夕暮れのひばりヶ丘駅隣の踏切と電車 Evening RR-Crossing in Hibarigaoka 910712
http://youtu.be/8aQLZbngWjg

1991 Waiting for the Rain to Stop 雨を上げるまでを待っている 910712
http://youtu.be/MCkvNDyEMRQ

1991 Bowling Alley and Ice Skating Rink Etc ボウリング など 910713
http://youtu.be/zeT2uA6crU8

There was quite a lot contained in this one place - from (ice) hockey on the ground floor, to bowling, to pool tables, and through a window I saw women practicing ballet in a neighboring building (that was internally connected I think).

1991 ひばりヶ丘駅-高田馬場駅 Hibarigaoka to Takadanobaba 910713
http://youtu.be/rQbUrDHIhx0

1991 高田馬場駅JRホームの見回り Platform Lookaround at Takadanobaba 910713
http://youtu.be/kLRMAdAoRs0

1991 Takadanobaba Walkabout 高田馬場散策散歩 910713
http://youtu.be/fdK_lPo6SSI

In this 30-minute video, I explore some surprisingly rustic areas of Takadanobaba on the west side of the station.

[Update (140730)]: I received the following comment about this video:

"It's amazing that someone actually took time to record these mundane scenes, which may not mean anything to lay people, but for someone like me who used to live and work in Tokyo between 1993 and 1994, these everyday scenes really resonate profoundly like long lost memories.  I wonder why you took time out to do this back in 1991.  This is over 20 years ago, but they come alive as historical documentaries."

Which prompted me to write down something about *why* I took all those videos in 1990-93:

Tokyo has always fascinated me, and once I bought a video camera, I felt compelled to do what I could to record what life was like here.  Possibly the largest motivating factor was that I like to know how things really are (and were, and why), and I felt there was a need to record Tokyo - to get away from the tourist routine and really document the city.  I wanted to record the whole city actually... I fell shy of that goal, but did manage to get scenes from a wide range of locations.  Incidentally, I have a few videos posted from 1993, but not many.  By then my (analog) equipment was beginning to break down and I was a little burned out from being into it so intensely in 1990, 1991, and 1992.  Re: "This is over 20 years ago, but they come alive as historical documentaries" - The thing that feels strange to me now is how I was always focused on recording "Tokyo Today" and so it's a hard concept for me to fully grasp how that "Tokyo Today" became "Historical Tokyo"!  Where *did* the time go, and when did the next generation step onto the stage?  (Or something like that!).

1991 S-VHS Tape Machine - Running with Cover Off 910712
http://youtu.be/Z-tdq6lMl84

My S-VHS video deck... unfortunately, the tapes I recorded with this machine have not withstood the past 23+ years very well and are aging badly.  They are playable, but are turning purple in places - a problem I didn't foresee when I took this video of the deck running.
   On a technical note regarding this particular model - it had variable speed rewind, so it would rewind the tape at a furious pace until near the end, when it would sense the tape was nearly fully rewound and slow down.  Unfortunately, the sensor didn't always work, and it would reach the end running at full-out hyper-speed, making a horrendous "whap!" sound, which ended up stripping some gears in the mechanism and causing the tape to jam when ejecting.
   If you haven't worked with VHS tape before, you are probably wondering why the tape didn't break when it hit the end.  They had a very strong leading section to the tape to prevent that from happening.

The following four videos with "x2" in the title were recorded at half speed (15fps) without sound, so the standard 30fps playback speed makes them double-time silent clips.  Also note that these were taken in January and May of 2013 - and slept in the camera until I recently vacuumed out that memory card and posted them.

Shinjuku Station Southeast Exit (2x) 新宿駅東南口 130129
http://youtu.be/x39Ls6KBIV8

新宿東南口広場 (2x) Shinjuku Southeast Exit Plaza (2x) 130129
http://youtu.be/zcfgKLHoAcQ

Shinjuku Station (2x) Upper Concourse to Platform 新宿駅 130129
http://youtu.be/5HaxJH6T6Vg

Shinjuku Station Upper Concourse (2x) 新宿駅 上の通路 130515
http://youtu.be/UQowAL2LQWc

Construction Zone by Shinjuku Station ホームの見回り 新宿工事現場隣 140710
http://youtu.be/h-wvRDlSXR0

新宿駅-大崎駅 湘南新宿ライン東海道線直通特別快速 Shinjuku to Osaki - SSLTCTK-L 140710
http://youtu.be/gCxjoZmucWc

Shinjuku to Osaki / 新宿駅-大崎駅

Shinjuku to Osaki / 新宿駅-大崎駅

Shinjuku to Osaki / 新宿駅-大崎駅

東京駅-品川駅 山手線外回り Tokyo to Shinagawa - Yamanote Line SV 140711
http://youtu.be/8D_vvgT2PzM

高尾山口駅-高尾駅 京王線 Takaosanguchi to Takao Keio Line 140714
http://youtu.be/bQSYDpGRQWg

上野駅-有楽町駅 山手線 Ueno to Yurakucho - Yamanote Line - Daytime View 140715
http://youtu.be/NtpVckeptdk

新宿駅-大崎駅 湘南新宿ライン東海道線直通快速 Shinjuku to Osaki SSLTCK-R 140717
http://youtu.be/yiwfSmisAlY

三鷹駅-中野駅 中央線 Mitaka to Nakano - Chuo Line - Left Side Daytime View 140718
http://youtu.be/TMp5-Qk6I4I

東鷲宮駅-土呂駅 宇都宮線 Higashi-Washinomiya to Toro - Utsunomiya Line 140718
http://youtu.be/w34b5ju2NFg

430AM Tokyo Station Chuo Line Platform and Escalators 東京駅中央線ホームなど 140719
http://youtu.be/vq3Ta6eDDhU

This was a new experience - I got stuck in town by missing the last train home, so I took the first one out in the morning.  I've done that before, but never from Tokyo Station, so since I had some time before the first train departed, I walked around and took some video.

Twilight Street Scene in Nishi-Shinjuku 夕暮れの西新宿横道 140708
http://youtu.be/6J9BkRwLjcY

Fleet of Taxis at Night 夜の待ってるタクシー 140708
http://youtu.be/YT4_yaFtX1M

Osaki - Headed Home Before Storm 大崎 嵐の前に帰る 140710
http://youtu.be/V4yMDZ9dHsA

飯田橋駅-水道橋駅-御茶ノ水駅 中央線 Iidabashi to Ochanomizu - Chuo Line 140711
http://youtu.be/0_3F7-iEc8k

Tokyo Pub Interior View 140718
http://youtu.be/vfBl5tyY9qk

British style pubs are fairly popular in Tokyo.  The combination of food and drink (as opposed to primarily drink) is actually very similar in concept with Japanese izakaya places.

Empty New-ish Building 140715
http://youtu.be/s0BycBqN3Gw

This was sort of a strange experience - I walked down a side street in... Kyobashi I think it was, and stopped at one point and looked around.  The only green nearby was from two trees in front of a modern - or at least what I thought was modern - building.  But then I noticed that the mail boxes were all taped up and the building appeared to be completely vacant.  I'm not sure what it means.  It may be that they want to build something bigger there - the usual reason for tearing down buildings in Tokyo.

Takao Cable Car - Riding to Upper Station 高尾ケーブルカーの上り 140714
http://youtu.be/KGZUd1Npsk4

Looking Around on Mt Takao 高尾山の見回り ビアマウントの近く 140714
http://youtu.be/vk1lQut_3qI

Mt Takao Cable Car - Beginning Night Descent 高尾山ケーブルカー下がり 140714
http://youtu.be/2Z4fI7UOi0A

Mt Takao Cable Car - Bottom Tunnel and Lower Station 高尾山夜ケーブルカー 140714
http://youtu.be/5Vq_rhzBEIk

Yamanote Line Arriving at Takadanobaba 高田馬場駅 山手線 140715
http://youtu.be/NFIdu2OS5RA

Saikyo Line Train Departing Shinjuku 新宿駅から埼京線が出発 140717
http://youtu.be/ykDiD28ZkD8

新宿駅と埼京線電車 Saikyo Line Train and Construction Site - Shinjuku 140717
http://youtu.be/KvzbJ5zCGcY

御茶ノ水駅-東京駅 中央線 Ochanomizu to Tokyo - Chuo Line 140711
http://youtu.be/KI2r4ylrEUk

東京駅山手線ホームの見回りなど Tokyo Station Old Platform Lookaround 140711
http://youtu.be/pMvsUMX68Y0

I think this may be the only platform left at Tokyo Station that still has (over part of the platform) a wooden roof.

高尾駅-高尾山口駅 京王線 Takao to Takaosanguchi - Keio Line 140714
http://youtu.be/kYVPu1hNWiY

高尾駅-高尾山口駅 京王線 Takao to Takaosanguchi - Keio Line 140714
http://youtu.be/kYVPu1hNWiY

立川駅の夜南口 Tachikawa Station - South Exit Night View 140714
http://youtu.be/doRS_LD_ktE

Tachikawa Station Shopping Area 立川駅モール 140714
http://youtu.be/iqrbYpgu8vQ

立川駅中央線夜ホーム Tachikawa Station - Chuo Line Platform 140714
http://youtu.be/XrOS_HaDbS8

駒込駅で山手線を待ってる Waiting for Yamanote Line at Komagome 140715
http://youtu.be/MFgO2zBG6xE

恵比寿駅隣 金曜日の夜 Sidewalk Scene Beside Ebisu Station 140718
http://youtu.be/u6O4d0wIx6U

Ebisu Station - Waiting for a Train 恵比寿駅で電車を待ってる 140718
http://youtu.be/iT-yWZzyX4c

Departing Ebisu Station at Night 恵比寿駅から夜出発 140718
http://youtu.be/2sQGpMSvYTs

東鷲宮駅の夜ホームの様子 Higashi-Washinomiya Station Night Platform 140718
http://youtu.be/J5_h5rlVxMk

Waiting for a Train at Higashi-Washinomiya 東鷲宮駅で電車を待ってる 140718
http://youtu.be/IIqW0b_CAvk

大宮駅までの最終上り電車 Last Inbound Train to Omiya 140718
http://youtu.be/SIyCrUZWzaE

東京駅 午前四時の空っぽ朝変えり 410AM Tokyo Station 140719
http://youtu.be/tzL1HAFEn9M

Waiting by the ticket gates early Saturday morning, when they switched them on at 4:10 a.m., I was one of the first people (aside from the people working there) to walk into the station.  It was a bit weird walking through gleaming empty spaces that are usually full of crowds of people rushing here and there....

東京駅 朝一の電車を待ってる Waiting for 1st Trains from Tokyo Station 140719
http://youtu.be/dsS9pGoYDIM

Twilight Yurakucho in the Rain 夕暮れの雨有楽町 140711g
http://youtu.be/hZDKySPibRE

プラットホームの人々が仕事に向かう People Walking Down Platform 140717g
http://youtu.be/MZP0FwPC110

The title sounds really boring, but as everyone was walking in the same direction, it feels a little like standing on an island, facing downriver, and watching water flowing by on both sides.

新宿駅-渋谷駅 山手線 Shinjuku to Shibuya - Yamanote Line 140718g
http://youtu.be/epVN0xTJtqY

Shibuya / 渋谷

Shibuya / 渋谷

Shibuya / 渋谷

赤羽駅 最終の金曜日京浜東北線の電車を待ってる Waiting for Last Keihin-Tohoku Train 140719g
http://youtu.be/EVhBOqHSAd0

歩行者天国 銀座四丁目 Ginza Pedestrian Paradise 4-Chome 140721
http://youtu.be/a-NW-iigQ5k

アートスペースロンド 下町の祭り (ア) 村山勝治と村山能扶子 140721
http://youtu.be/YOAEzXG6Nu8

アートスペース_ロンド 下町の祭り (イ) 村山勝治と村山能扶子 140721
http://youtu.be/YrDqZvl5nQ0

Yasumoto Ryosuke 安元亮祐 (ア) Gallery Kazuki 画廊香月 140721
http://youtu.be/NP-wypaciRM

Yasumoto Ryosuke 安元亮祐 (イ) Gallery Kazuki 画廊香月 140721
http://youtu.be/huequNCv2jI

Yasumoto Ryosuke 安元亮祐 (ウ) Gallery Kazuki 画廊香月 140721
http://youtu.be/IUOfZIvPWv8

四ッ谷駅ホーム午前八時四十分の一見 Glimpse of Morning Yotsuya Station 140722
http://youtu.be/tGOTu9W9brk

西新宿向かうの横断歩道 Crossing Into Nishi-Shinjuku 元淀橋へ 140722
http://youtu.be/Pa9LmOCObYo

People Waiting to Buy Lottery Tickets in Shinjuku 夜の新宿 宝くじの人々 140722
http://youtu.be/a6DGy-0gKHM

京王線特急府中駅から出発 Keio Tokkyu Departing Fuchu Station 140724
http://youtu.be/KBKQOKIHVKI

新宿駅新南口向きの眺め Shinjuku Station Rails Etc 140722
http://youtu.be/3t0klaG4HBY

新宿夜の思い出横丁など Walking Through Shinjuku Omoide-Yokocho 140722
http://youtu.be/mQ5Kp2Ta2xI

新宿駅-四ッ谷駅 朝の中央線 Shinjuku to Yotsuya - Morning Chuo Line 140723
http://youtu.be/i0EISbj5ZBs

昼の丸の内線 霞ヶ関 Afternoon Marunouchi Line at Kasumigaseki 140723
http://youtu.be/ZPI2iBBaLII

霞ヶ関駅-赤坂見附駅 丸の内線 Kasumigaseki to Akasaka-Mitsuke - Marunouchi Line 140723
http://youtu.be/2VVFT8XXvx4

Chuo Line Arriving at Yotsuya Station 四ッ谷駅 中央線の電車が遣って来る 140723
http://youtu.be/m8h12A4ETmk

Waiting for a Train at Fuchu Station 京王府中駅のホームの様子 140724
http://youtu.be/V8KaM4YjRNc

京王線東府中駅北口 East Exit of Keio Higashi-Fuchu Station 140724
http://youtu.be/KqwUrwnmAs0

夜の分倍河原駅 Bubaigawara Station at Night 140724
http://youtu.be/0-XyxOa-ZGw

分倍河原駅-立川駅 夜南武線 Bubaigawara -Tachikawa - Nanbu Line at Night 140724
http://youtu.be/cwjTul69kdc

立川駅の貨物電車 Tanker Train Stopping at Tachikawa Station 140724
http://youtu.be/KAOqOviV44Q

霞ヶ関駅-神谷町駅 朝の日比谷線 Kasumigaseki to Kamiyacho - Hibiya Line 140725
http://youtu.be/63tp3NyiRIE

朝神谷町駅ホームの様子 Platform Walk at Morning Kamiyacho Station 140725
http://youtu.be/GkdmMvk2ahU

Waiting for Marunouchi Line Train at Kasumigaseki Station 霞ヶ関駅丸の内線 140725
http://youtu.be/4fMPV3PQ8So

Summer Shinjuku Quick-360 夏の新宿 横道360 140725
http://youtu.be/bEonFyeTmLw

I would have taken a lot more in Shinjuku on the day I took this, but it was so hot out that I was primarily focused on getting myself into an air-conditioned space.

工事中の新宿駅新南口 South Part of Shinjuku Station Under Construction 140725
http://youtu.be/tCBjRHk9Xeo

Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://lylehsaxon.blogspot.jp/
http://lookback1997.blogspot.jp/
http://tokyoht.blogspot.jp/

"Shin-Okubo, Takadanobaba, Mejiro, Ikebukuro, Otsuka, Yurakucho, Shinjuku, Etc."

I've been venturing off my usual beaten paths and visiting a few places I haven't been to in awhile.  The biggest surprises have been how radically some train stations have been changed/rebuilt.  Someone recently told me that the JR railway company makes most of its money from renting out retail space - not from running its trains (which I didn't believe at first, but I do now!), so it stands to reason that former utilitarian train stations (with a shop or two in a few of them) have been converted into retail shopping malls that also have ("What's that noise?") trains running through them ("Oh yeah!  This is actually a train station!").

Shin-Okubo hasn't changed much - and it was reassuring in a way to see it the way I remember it from the early eighties.  The first shock was Otsuka.  I came down the stairs and thought I had gotten off at the wrong station!  Since then (at places not in this batch of video clips) I've had similar feelings of shock/disorientation at a few other stations.  But that's the charm/hazard of living in Tokyo.  If you stay away from any area for awhile that you used to know well, chances are that when you go back, it will have changed.  You get used to gradual change, but the shock comes when the change has come about by eradicating 100% of what was there before and building something entirely different in its place.  (If you don't live in Tokyo, you probably think that's an exaggeration - long-term Tokyo residents know better!)  You would think it couldn't be 100% changed and maybe it isn't actually (there must be *something* left from before?!), but I've been to areas and looked around and not discovered anything at all of what was there before.  With some redevelopment, they bulldoze over an area and build the entire area anew, so I think 100% is probably accurate.

Anyway - in addition to typical scenes of Shinjuku, Ginza, Kyobashi, Yurakucho, etc., there are views of Shin-Okubo, Takadanobaba, Mejiro, Ikebukuro, and Otsuka.

Shin-Okubo Main Street Stroll (120831g)
http://youtu.be/42Gtav-LId8

This area is home to the most well-know "Koreatown" (or "Little Korea") in Tokyo.  According to a Wikipedia page regarding Koreatowns in the world:

"Unlike other Japanese Koreatowns, the Korean-oriented commercial district around Shin-Okubo Station in Shinjuku Ward developed after World War II, and is dominated by "new-comers" - recent immigrants from South Korea who have retained their ethnic and cultural identity, as can be seen from the ubiquitous signs written in Hangul. Other immigrants from China, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and various other nationalities makes this one of the most colorful and multicultural areas in Tokyo."

What I remember about Shin-Okubo is the multicultural (from various countries in Southeast Asia) aspect to it, but when I went there last week, it seemed like it was overwhelmingly Korean.  I didn't really think of it as "Koreatown" before, but after walking around on both sides of the main street there on August 31st, I do now!

Takadanobaba Sanpo (120831g)
http://youtu.be/HLmhIvE9JCU

Takadanobaba hasn't changed much - come to think of it.  Naturally, the tenants and (especially restaurants) in buildings have changed a bit, but there hasn't been much construction there and it feels pretty much as I remember it from the past few decades.

Ikebukuro Sanpo (D) Summer Late Afternoon Crowds (120831g)
http://youtu.be/OAt9d6FTcMo

Maybe I just didn't appreciate it because I passed though it nearly every day, but Ikebukuro seems like it's become a more popular place with the young crowd than I remember.  But... I suspect that memory is wrong.  When I was in my twenties and walking around with other people in their twenties, I didn't think about it - it was just... Ikebukuro.  Now that I'm three decades past my twenties, the crowds of young people really stand out to me?  I'm not sure.  In any case, my perception of Ikebukuro is that it's become a more hip place, but it was probably just as hip - for its time - in the early eighties as now?

Zebra CW (A) 120831g
http://youtu.be/Og58tvcC0Co

The zebra crosswalks have always seemed visually interesting to me (CW = Cross Walk).

Evening Ikebukuro East Side (120831g)
http://youtu.be/3ywm2XNTf7U

The east side of Ikebukuro Station has movie theaters (or had - I noticed a large empty lot where a couple of movie theaters were before), restaurants, shopping, the Sunshine City complex, etc.  The west side has Nakayama, clubs, and whatnot.  The east side is where you see all the students and couples.

Ikebukuro Station (Evening Entrance) 120831g
http://youtu.be/wZE7r_08OZY

Minami-Otsuka Sanpo (A) 120831g
http://youtu.be/IAtcSTNmLt4

Flute and Dance Practice for Festival (Minami-Otsuka 南大塚) 120831g
http://youtu.be/hn-1sTeAkdw

There was a large festival scheduled for the next day, so this group - in normal clothing - appeared to be practicing the day before.  The following day (September 1st) there were a lot of short, but heavy rainstorms.  Actually, that's a topic all its own - the rain would suddenly pour down really hard, then there would be no rain, it would pour down hard again, etc.  Naturally I've seen on-again and off-again rain before, but never such heavy rain on and off so suddenly and for such a prolonged period.  Every time it rained, I wondered if this group would get to perform on the festival day or not.  Hopefully they were able to do so between the many sudden downpours.

About the strange way it rained - in talking with various people about that later, everyone told me that they also thought it was very strange and that they didn't remember it ever raining quite like that before....

Tokyo Twilight (120831g)
http://youtu.be/echk4sIey-Y

Looking out over a part of mega-city Tokyo.  The city is so huge, there's no one defining image for the cityscape.  This is just one of an almost infinite variety of views/compositions.

Shinjuku to Shin-Okubo (Yamanote Line) 120831
http://youtu.be/K4_Z2KvyuB4

Shin-Okubo Sanpo (A) 120831
http://youtu.be/qPUBWlUKSYI

Shin-Okubo Sanpo (B) 120831
http://youtu.be/GyXQ_LwBSQY

Waiting at Intersection (Near Shin-Okubo) 120831
http://youtu.be/qrrc_Jf6N_A

Shin-Okubo Sanpo (C) 120831
http://youtu.be/u5LX2OnT1Co

Shin-Okubo Sanpo (D) 120831
http://youtu.be/YxLttwzlhdI

Entering Shin-Okubo Station (120831)
http://youtu.be/W2sk5nm4mS0

This is as it was before, although I don't remember quite so many people standing about in front of the station.  That's either just a timing issue (a large number of people just happened to be waiting to meet someone there) or it's become a popular place to meet.  Different places in Tokyo tend to end up as kind of official meeting spots: Hachiko in Shinjuku, Studio Alta in Shinjuku, etc.

Shin-Okubo to Takadanobaba (120831)
http://youtu.be/EYNRLexhTuo

Entering Takadanobaba Station (120831)
http://youtu.be/Dt2vqWQV4OM

Takadanobaba to Mejiro (Yamanote Line) 120831
http://youtu.be/BPLf7CGNDT0

Mejiro Station Interior (120831)
http://youtu.be/qw-AICtNmvA

Mejiro Station has also changed pretty radically, but it's never been a station I went to often, so I had before, and still have, neutral feelings about it.  Never having gotten used to it, it's not in the least disturbing that it has changed.

In walking around there for bit (on the west side of the station only), I was struck with how high-price the suburbs off of the main street appear to be (see following several clips - most of which are on the main street, but at least one shows a little of an expensive area).

Mejiro Sanpo (A) 120831
http://youtu.be/FlBBPdprZsI

Mejiro Sanpo (B) 120831
http://youtu.be/Z9jF-81935M

Mejiro Sanpo (C) 120831
http://youtu.be/UZEqgAGJmuk

Mejiro Suburb (120831)
http://youtu.be/WYlc0uKytxs

Mejiro Sanpo (D) 120831
http://youtu.be/F8abLNeAKRE

Mejiro Afternoon Platform Walk (120831)
http://youtu.be/UbV_cDPoS7k

Narita Express Train Passing Mejiro (120831)
http://youtu.be/ftDI9r8_tw8

Mejiro to Ikebukuro (Yamanote Line) 120831
http://youtu.be/nVrGrsFY11A

Afternoon Ikebukuro Station (120831)
http://youtu.be/_IQG0BM6gBw

Shinjuku Station now has the largest number of people passing through it every day, but apparently that distinction used to belong to Ikebukuro (probably before they extended the Akabane Line [renamed the Saikyo Line when they did] to Shinjuku, and then on to Ebisu), but Ikebukuro still has a very large number of people using it every day.

Ikebukuro West-Side Stroll (120831)
http://youtu.be/EbG2HiKu0kw

Not extensive at all, but this shows a little of the izakaya area on the west side of Ikebukuro.

Ikebukuro Pedestrian Tunnel (Afternoon) - 120831
http://youtu.be/ni0WxMX6usc

Ikebukuro Sanpo (A) 120831
http://youtu.be/b1-VNJIDzrw

Ikebukuro Sanpo (B) Long Shadow Side Streets (120831)
http://youtu.be/cUhdIUCnB3c

Ikebukuro Sanpo (C) Late Afternoon Crowds (120831)
http://youtu.be/5GoouylUXCg

Ikebukuro - Man Stocking a Toy Machine (120831)
http://youtu.be/22YGizXR9P4

Ikebukuro Sanpo (E) Verbal Advertising (120831)
http://youtu.be/-242oX_1tNA

Zebra CW (B) 120831
http://youtu.be/dwTwz0TaLd4

Ikebukuro Sanpo (F) Evening Side Streets (120831)
http://youtu.be/k9y-32er5H4

Ikebukuro Underground Shopping Mall (A) 120831
http://youtu.be/ljCduxBodms

Evening Ikebukuro Station (120831)
http://youtu.be/zPbfRWsZuJY

Ikebukuro Tunnel to East Side (Evening) 120831
http://youtu.be/EjmMd6Cp0Vs

Ikebukuro to Otsuka (Twilight Yamanote Line) 120831
http://youtu.be/DhVi0cVSFMg

Otsuka Station (Summer 2012 - Twilight) 120831
http://youtu.be/LA7LRl5Tzyw

Kita-Otsuka Sanpo (A) 120831
http://youtu.be/Yk1PLnL1rDQ

Kita-Otsuka Sanpo (B) Lonely Streets (120831)
http://youtu.be/D_hAabcYnt8

Kita-Otsuka Sanpo (C) Shops at Night (120831)
http://youtu.be/fcy5SYXtXqQ

Otsuka Platform Walk, Etc. (120831)
http://youtu.be/m9gknndJ4Tk

Yurakucho Platform (Nighttime-360) 120831
http://youtu.be/M21Utf-0_NA

Yurakucho-SB Sanpo (120831)
http://youtu.be/J7MjLUzrxKI

Yurakucho New Underground Stand-Bar (120831)
http://youtu.be/VFAZUmebgUg

"Stand bars" (also translated as "standing bars") seem to be coming back into favor big time.  The prolonged bad economy means people are cutting back on expenses, and one way to profitably run an izakaya with lower prices is to have everyone stand (more people fit into a small space and tend to linger less since they're standing the whole time).

Maybe "coming back into favor big time" is an overstatement, but I'm seeing more and more of them as the months roll past....

Yurakucho Outside Izakaya Stroll (120831)
http://youtu.be/spotECTrfkU

It's only when the weather is warm that there are so many tables out in the open like this.  Spring is the best time - when visiting one of these izakayas is a kind of celebration of the warming weather.

Yurakucho Night Sanpo (120831)
http://youtu.be/bWv_BYqCsSk

Entering Yurakucho Station (10:30 p.m.) 120831
http://youtu.be/6RamnZi52zw

Yurakucho Station - Waiting for a Train at Night (120831)
http://youtu.be/lgbUFyGZy84

Yurakucho to Tokyo (120831)
http://youtu.be/ZJt-hPfG7jI

Yurakucho Platform Walk (Before Night Rush) 120831g
http://youtu.be/ECLKOgBOCxw

Yurakucho Izakaya Stroll - Summer 2012 (120831g)
http://youtu.be/6qTKQweEH0A

Yurakucho-SB Bound (120831g)
http://youtu.be/6oDOjaueKrg

Night View (Otsuka to Ueno - Yamanote Line) 120831g 山手線 夜ビュー
http://youtu.be/w4Jh9F9g68Y

Night View (Ueno to Yurakucho - Yamanote Line) 120831g 山手線 夜ビュー
http://youtu.be/Rsrn1CkSvjg

Surface train travel in Tokyo is almost never boring - since you get constantly changing scenery, and and since Tokyo is constantly being rebuilt, you look out and kind of idly watch for new things you haven't seen before (either because you didn't notice them, or because they weren't there).

Departing Yurakucho Station (120829)
http://youtu.be/0Prg9jJvHQA

Seibu Line Train Arriving at Station (120829)
http://youtu.be/JsnI0lXPwzk

Summer Ginza Stroll (120829)
http://youtu.be/kRmtsZ-unPs

Clouds in Kyobashi 120904
http://youtu.be/aFUnJeRZTAY

Tokyo Station Escalator Under Construction (Chuo Line) 120904
http://youtu.be/84OmBUJbk-Q

Rolling by East Side of Shinjuku 120904
http://youtu.be/hW9KPHBkQoE

Ota Yumiko 太田喩美子 Exhibition Ginza Ono Gallery-2 小野画廊-2 (A) 120904
http://youtu.be/-C5dfoyQy5Y

Ota Yumiko 太田喩美子 Exhibition Ginza Ono Gallery-2 小野画廊-2 (B) 120904
http://youtu.be/PCzRUQpoUE4

Ota Yumiko 太田喩美子 Exhibition Ginza Ono Gallery-2 小野画廊-2 (C) 120904
http://youtu.be/Csn0BrQjuxk

Project-306 Installation Sept 2012 - 306号室プロジェクト 九月 (120904)
http://youtu.be/nubukXDDOto

Kyobashi to Tokyo Station Night Walk (120904)
http://youtu.be/b5QF_yUIoy0

Speaking of "stand bars", there's one in this clip towards the beginning.  I walk past it, and then look back (vertically) into the open door.  I think this a new one, but I'm not sure.  After passing a couple of asphalt deserts (for the internal combustion machines), I walk into Tokyo Station....

Kanda to Ochanomizu - Outgoing Chuo Line (120904)
http://youtu.be/k_gOFJBkG2I

Evening Shinjuku Station 120904
http://youtu.be/r5ea22DXP88

Shinjuku Southeast Exit 新宿駅東南口 (120904)
http://youtu.be/S55aHpLmhzQ

Shinjuku South Side Night Walk (A) 120904
http://youtu.be/VA4OT5RuW5c

Shinjuku South Side Night Walk (B) 120904
http://youtu.be/e4j_q_oKj3Y

Watching Night Trains on South Side (120904)
http://youtu.be/UYYdmBARK4Y

A good place to contemplate things and feel... a wide range of feelings.

Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://tokyoartmusic.blogspot.com/

"1991 Fireworks, Shinjuku, Takadanobaba, Ginza, Kyobashi, Kyojima, Etc."

This batch of clips begins with a trip back to July 27th, 1991, when I went to Asakusa from Ueno to see the big Sumida-gawa Fireworks Festival. After that are typical views of Shinjuku, Ginza, Yurakucho, the Chuo Line, the Ginza Line, etc., *and* a 2011 visit to Kyojima - which I visited back in 1991 as a rare part of Tokyo that escaped the firebombing of WW-II by virtue of being between two rivers. In 1991, there were still a number of old wooden buildings that pre-dated the war, but this time around, not very many. I was also (slightly) surprised to see a monster high-rise right in the middle of the old two story buildings in the area. It may well end up being made into (yet another) exclusive vertical gated community. Vertical gated communities have their place in the city, but one hopes that some of the old way with street-level open-front shops will continue as well....

1991 Sumida-gawa Fireworks Festival (隅田川花火大会-91年) - (910727)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ5BgUNPE_4

July 27th, 1991 - Going to Asakusa to see the Sumida-gawa (River) Fireworks Festival (隅田川花火大会). This includes views of Ueno, lining up for tickets, riding the Ginza Line to Asakusa, watching the fireworks in Asakusa, and then taking a few trains from Asakusa over to the Seibu-Ikebukuro Line.

There is information about this famous festival here:
http://sumidagawa-hanabi.com/index_eg.html

Shinjuku - South Exit to Kabukicho - (110621-2225)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ezj2_ab7rw

Walking in Shinjuku from the south exit of Shinjuku Station over to Kabukicho.

Half Dark Kokubunji Station - (110615-1955)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-zIe-si4xU

Walking through a half-darkened Kokubunji Station.

Shinjuku - West Exit to South Exit Stroll - (110621-2220)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-OGFrMj-6I

Walking in Shinjuku, from the west exit to the south exit.

Shoe Sounds in Takadanobaba Station - (Seibu to Tozai) - (110621-1206)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY4SkLdpGD4

Listening to "clack-clack" shoe sounds while changing trains in Takadanobaba Station - (from the Seibu Line to the Tozai Line).

Chuo Line - Tokyo to Yotsuya - (110621-1959)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g3et7qiYsI

Riding the Chuo Line from Tokyo to Yotsuya.

Tozai Line Train Arriving at Takadanobaba - (110621-1210)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fohT9ZkTRmQ

Watching a Tozai Line Train arrive at Takadanobaba Station.

From Ginza Line to Street Level (Kyobashi Station) - (110621-1229)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2_ffCpjiPE

Going from the Ginza Line to street level at Kyobashi Station.

Boulevard Stroll in Kyobashi - (110621-1231)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2sKx6W1DK4

Walking down a boulevard in Kyobashi.

Very Noisy Elevator in Kyobashi - (110621-1308)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rr-119vd-E

Riding a very noisy elevator in Kyobashi. (I don't think it's dangerous - since they regularly change the motors and cables in elevators - but I think there's a very tired solenoid or something in the elevator box that needs to be replaced.)

Moriyama Mitsuteru (森山光輝) Installation at Gallery Tomo - (110621-1430)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4kmxfYq1aM

Moriyama Mitsuteru (森山光輝) Installation (インストレーション) at Gallery Tomo (ぎゃらりぃ朋).

Okuno Building (奥野ビル) - Staircase-A (7th to 1st) - (110621-1852)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEQA0Q9Igx0

Walking down the A-Staircase in the Okuno Building (奥野ビル) - from the 7th to the 1st floor.

Y's Arts Round Window (Room-101) - June 21st, 2011 - (110621-1918)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAPBhSNB4Dc

A look at the round window of Room-101 of the Okuno Building, where the Y's Arts antique shop is. (on June 21st, 2011).

Ginza to Yurakucho Stroll - (110621-1923)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3kXo4E11JU

Walking form Ginza side streets over to the Yurakucho Station area.

Looking Around by Yurakucho-SB - (110621-1951)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9kPghMR4R8

Looking around by the Yurakucho-SB.

Yurakucho to Tokyo - Keihin-Tohoku Line - (110621-1954)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p7k2qSXXuQ

Riding a Keihin-Tohoku Line train from Yurakucho to Tokyo.

Outbound Shinjuku Chuo Line Platform - (110621-2014)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mKhpFFsTBk

Looking around on an outbound Chuo Line Platform at Shinjuku Station.

Outbound Chuo Line Train at Shinjuku Station - (110621-2015)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L7RRESYM_8

An outbound Chuo Line train at Shinjuku Station.

Shinjuku - South Exit to Nishi-Shinjuku - (110621-2017)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEarzDiifXw

In Shinjuku - walking from the south exit of Shinjuku Station to Nishi-Shinjuku (formerly Yodobashi).

"Bring" - Live in Shinjuku (Street Music) - (110621-2215)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7NFZ6St-10

"Bring", live on the west side of Shinjuku Station. (Street Music).

Ginza to Kagurazaka (Ginza and Tozai Lines) - (110624-2238)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RTiR_4JK7E

Going from the streets of Ginza, to the Ginza Line, and then the Tozai Line - until reaching Kagurazaka Station on the Tozai Line.

Takadanobaba Stroll - (110624-1302)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRBKiWBE0hc

Walking around in Takadanobaba one hot summer day.

Takadanobaba Station to Takadanobaba Traffic Island - (110624-1239)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FVSkxISxeM

Walking from Seibu-Takadanobaba Station to a traffic island in Takadanobaba.

Nihonbashi Station - Tozai Line to Inbound Toei-Asakusa Line Entrance - (110624-1337)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnJw--L4EZA

At Nihonbashi Station - walking from the Tozai Line to the inbound Toei-Asakusa Line entrance.

Caution: If you want to get on an outbound train, you need to climb a different set of stairs to get there (I found out the hard way).

Nihonbashi to Oshiage - Toei-Asakusa Line - (110624-1342)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIcFmrEKn78

Riding a Toei-Asakusa Line train from Nihonbashi to Oshiage.

Oshiage to Keisei-Hikifune - (110624-1353)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFKztwHGR8o

Riding a Keisei local train from Oshiage Station to Keisei-Hikifune Station.

Train Leaving Keisei-Hikifune Station - (110624-1357)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnNIVrcRaZs

Watching a train leaving Keisei-Hikifune Station.

Yahiro - Walking Around - (110624-1402)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgYjW1usIoA

Walking around in Yahiro.

Kyojima Walkabout-01 - (110624-1419)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJtTIGU5h2Q

Kyojima Walkabout-02 - (110624-1437)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAcqLNmy1Mc

Kyojima Walkabout-03 - (110624-1446)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sldbv1c-zJw

Kyojima Walkabout-04 - (110624-1456)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R05QOeUxDWc

Kyojima Walkabout-05 - (110624-1501)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VanpSGOOxrk

Kyojima (Shotengai) Walkabout - 06 - (110624-1726)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhwoXh_Swd4

Kyojima (Shotengai) Walkabout - 07 - (110624-1732)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLn0VJ2cmRg

Kyojima (Shotengai) Walkabout - 08 - (110624-1801)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltS5paBoefs

Kyojima Walkabout-09 - (110624-1821)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrhvUX4KpzE

Kyojima Walkabout-10 - (110624-1839)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEhBtK-IJ8E

Kyojima Walkabout-11 - (110624-1849)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3Nar-jruf0

Kyojima Walkabout-12 - (110624-1857)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-yFtfJar3o

Walking around in Kyojima (京島) - 12.

Area Around Keisei-Hikifune Station in the Evening - (110624-1908)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAJ6mup3izw

Looking around in the area around Keisei-Hikifune Station in the evening.

Inside Seibu-Shinjuku Line Express (Late Friday Night) - (110624-2309)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIRjR6LqXXk

An inside view in a Seibu-Shinjuku Line express train - late Friday night.

Boarding Seibu Express at Takadanobaba - (110624-2307)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3XUPJlae_c

Boarding a Seibu express train at Takadanobaba Station.

Takadanobaba Station - 11:05 p.m. - (110624-2305)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lL9xoTh9LE

The inside of Takadanobaba Station at 11:05 p.m.

Boarding Keikyu Blue Sky Train at Keisei-Hikifune Station - (110624-1917)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iddeRwGOdNQ

Boarding a Keikyu "Blue Sky Train" at Keisei-Hikifune Station.

Nihonbashi - Toei-Asakusa Line to Ginza Line Transfer - (110624-1932)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPNYnT64Lr8

Changing trains at Nihonbashi Station - from the Toei-Asakusa Line to the Ginza Line.

Ginza Station and Ginza Main Street - Friday Night - (110624-1943)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKBLGHQmpk4

Walking through Ginza Station and out onto the streets near the Ginza 4-chome intersection on a Friday night.

Ginza to Yurakucho on Friday Night - (110624-1949)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IQdrNbP1SI

Walking from Ginza to Yurakucho on Friday Night.

Yurakucho Summer Izakaya - (110624-1955)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3tgIwiaybQ

Walking around in Yurakucho one summer Friday checking out the outside izakaya scene.

Yurakucho Friday Night Walkabout - (110624-2004)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgL9j5rT0bY

Walking about in Yurakucho on Friday night.

Yurakucho-SB on a Friday Night - (110624-2220)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz9E1DIt_Qg

Looking around by Yurakucho-SB on a Friday night.

Around Yurakucho Station (Friday Night) - (110624-2228)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEDQIc4kOA0

Walking through the street-level of Yurakucho Station, etc., on a Friday night.

Tozai Line - Kagurazaka to Takadanobaba - (110624-2258)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UOEOeA0twk

Riding the Tozai Line from Kagurazaka to Takadanobaba.

Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://tokyoartmusic.blogspot.com/