Higashi-Ueno 5-Chome
Higashi-Ueno’s 5-Chome, a small triangular-shaped subdivision that includes about 21 blocks of cramped buildings, isn’t much different from the thousands of other small subdivisions scattered throughout Tokyo’s 23 wards, where the past and present coexist in fascinating ways.
Grave Markers
Wooden grave tablets with a vertical Sanskrit inscription are placed behind or against family gravestones at most Buddhist cemeteries in Japan. The late afternoon light under clear winter skies presented harsh shadows and bright highlights that I felt would be good for a monochrome shot.
Pendant Tiles
A small pile of eave-end pendant roof tiles from Ryukoku-ji, a Buddhist temple in Ueno, Taito Ward, Tokyo, Japan. The tiles are stacked on the ground amidst lush garden foliage and scattered yellow ginkgo leaves. Each tile features the raised kanji character “龍” (dragon; imperial), derived from the temple’s name, Ryukoku-ji (龍谷寺).