... if not a little forlorn ... (85/365, 26 Mar 2022)
Back in mid-February, I went in search of the great whale fossil in Tokyo's west, Akishima city. That day's story is here. Of course, once I was there, I learnt that the fossil is celebrated not just there around Akishima Station, but at neighbouring train stations also. On the day, it was getting dark so I resolved to return one day. That day was today, since it coincided with a special pop-up shop at a shopping centre nearby which was selling whale-related items, celebrating the Akishima whale fossil.
Today's main goal was a train station not far from Akishima, 'Higashi Nakagami'. Here was a shopping area (Kujira Road') and a specially commissioned sculpture celebrating the discovery, confirmation and naming of the fossil. Off I went.
And here we are.
Although in Tokyo, we are in the western area, far from the madding crowd. Even so, wasn't quite expecting things to look quite so desolate. So many shops permanently shuttered; very few people around; a 'Kujira Road' shopping street but very little else.
Many of the apartments are Tokyo municipal housing, aged, requiring maintenance. It was an important reminder of the growing gap between rich and poor, the 'kakusa' we are witnessing in capitalist societies; and a reminder that not all of Tokyo is downtown Shibuya crossings and Ginza shopping...people are trying to eek out a living here too.
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| It starts on the seats at the station--whale emblem |
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| The 'Kujira Road' sign as you exit the station |
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| Turns out, there are quite a few of these signs around |
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| Here is the main claim to fame.. |
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| Named 'Akichan' after Akishima, and 'Tamachan', after the Tama River, Tama region of Tokyo |
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| Stone explaining the monument |
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👀?
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The overlaid letters aren't clear but the say 'kujira gallery', though there was no kujira, and no gallery...
maybe once upon a time there was |
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| The streets are not lacking in whale motifs |
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| Goods from the pop-up shop |
It is interesting to see how this suburb has taken up the whale theme. I'm not sure it celebrates it in quite the way they once imagined. Maybe there will be further developments.
Pics today on the Canon EOS M5, 18-150mm, on a bleak cloudy day.
