JAPAN DREAMING

Like many boys and girls growing up in England, Japan first appeared to me in the classroom — in Geography, History, and Art.

It was a place of tectonic plates and mountain ranges, of samurai and ceremony, of art and architecture so different from the world around me. From those brief glimpses into another culture — so distant from the medieval, Victorian, and industrial histories that filled my textbooks — my interest began.

At the time, Japan felt unreachable. School trips meant London or Cardiff, visits to museums and galleries. Family holidays were to Spain or Devon — wonderful, familiar places where I first picked up a camera, a disposable or a small 35mm with a lens that stretched out like Pinocchio’s nose. But travel beyond Europe was unimaginable; Japan remained a dream, a word written on a map rather than a destination.

View of a small town with houses and rooftops adjacent to a lush, green hillside with trees, under a partly cloudy sky.

A peaceful Japanese garden with a pond reflecting green trees and a blue sky with white clouds.

Shadows of overhead wires cast across a city street with crosswalk lines, a manhole cover, and a person sitting on the sidewalk.

At college, that dream returned. While studying Art and Design, I learned about woodblock prints, watercolours of Geishas and Samurai, and pottery traditions that spoke of patience and craft. I painted and sculpted my own interpretations, never knowing that one day I’d stand in the country that inspired them.

Years later, while working as a chef, Japan resurfaced once again — this time through the edge of a knife, the discipline of preparation, the quiet respect for ingredients. Each encounter felt like a small rehearsal, a reminder of something waiting.

And then, finally, I went. Two weeks that blurred together — Osaka, Kyoto, Takayama, Kanazawa, Tokyo — a journey shared with my girlfriend, filled with light, movement, sound. Each place offered moments I wanted to hold still: the curve of a street, the pause between gestures, the patterns of everyday life that spoke louder than any landmark.

These photographs are not a record, but a response — an attempt to hold still what felt fleeting, to honour what I found beautiful. They are about curiosity and respect, about seeing a place that felt both foreign and familiar — and about the quiet joy of finally standing within a dream I’d carried for years.

They come from the position of a visitor, looking with curiosity and care, guided by awe more than understanding. I know I’ve only touched the surface — the art, the people, the layers of history that run deeper than a traveller’s lens can reach, but what I’ve gathered here are fragments: moments of stillness and surprise, seen through a Western eye standing quietly in the East.

This book isn’t a portrait of Japan, but a trace of what it felt like to arrive — to walk through a long-held dream, camera in hand, and simply begin to look.

Front view of a 7-Eleven convenience store with a scooter parked outside, various signs, and a utility pole with graffiti.

People sitting in a row on a subway train, some wearing hats and glasses, others using their phones, with neutral expressions.

Black and white photo of a man standing on a city street sidewalk next to a taxi cab, viewed from a window with bars.

Close-up of a person walking with a backpack, arm in motion, black and white

Blurred image of people in a dimly lit indoor space with neon signs and screens.

Person walking past a pile of trash and recycling bags on a city street at night.

Black and white photo taken from above showing four people on a city street corner. One person is sitting on a bench, another leaning against a railing, and a third standing while looking at their phone. Two individuals are standing nearby, one holdi

An older man with gray hair sitting on a train or subway, looking at his phone with a focused expression. There are electrical wires visible through the window behind him.

A black and white photo of traditional Japanese sake barrels stacked together. The barrels are wrapped in straw and decorated with Japanese characters and designs, including a person playing a tennis racket and the word 'Sensation' in English.

View through the entrance of a traditional Japanese gate leading to a street with a cyclist passing by, beige and white buildings, orange traffic cones, and a person on the bicycle wearing a helmet and vest.

A man working behind a food stand with Japanese signage, surrounded by various items, in a black-and-white photo.

Shadows of a bicycle and a wire basket cast on a rough asphalt surface, with torn paper scraps on the ground.

Group of people walking outdoors in an urban area with power lines and a blue road sign.

A person working in a cluttered workspace with metal racks, a ladder, and various tools and objects.

Person with shoulder-length hair holding an umbrella outdoors, viewed from behind in black and white.

Two people standing outside a small restaurant in an urban alleyway, with signs and posters for food on display, and greenery in the background.

Black and white photo of electrical power lines and utility poles with wires and transformers against the sky.

Streetscene showing a parked white microvan, a person on a scooter taking a photo, a bicycle, vending machines, and residential buildings in the background.

Close-up of a paper lantern with red, cream, and blue sections and Japanese characters on the cream section.

Close-up of a man wearing a baseball cap, with the reverse side visible, standing under illuminated signage panels with partial text in the background.

Black and white photo of traditional Japanese-style building atop a stone wall by a body of water, with trees and branches overhead.

People waiting in line at a train station, with a digital display showing train line information in the background.

A person leaning on a railing, looking at their phone, with a tall building in the background.

Black and white photo of moving train window looking out at a street scene with a car and buildings.

Inside a train carriage looking through the window at train tracks and an approaching level crossing with a barrier.

A young man is lying on rocky ground near water, appearing unconscious or unwell. Another person, sitting beside him with their back to the camera, is taking a photo or video of him.

A cityscape with mid-rise buildings next to a river, trees on the riverbank, and a mountain range in the background under a partly cloudy sky, with a bird flying overhead.

A woman with hair tied back, seen from behind, standing at a crosswalk waiting to cross a busy street, with pedestrians lined up on the sidewalk and a black vehicle passing in front.

A detailed, black and white illustration of two mythical creatures with feline and dragon-like features, surrounded by flowing cloud patterns.

A person in uniform, seen from the back, standing on a street in a Japanese area with traditional buildings and signage. The person is wearing a cap and a sash with Japanese characters, possibly a traffic or safety officer.

People walking in a busy urban street, some blurred from motion, with a traditional-style building, utility poles, and a street sign in the background.

View of a city skyline with a tall tower, surrounded by trees and mountains in the background, under a cloudy sky at dusk.

Night scene of a busy street in a traditional Asian town, viewed from above. The street is lined with small shops, illuminated by street lamps. People are walking along the street, and the rooftops are visible, with some traditional curved eaves. The

A narrow, wet street in a residential neighborhood lined with modern houses, with multiple utility poles and network of power lines overhead against a cloudy sky and distant mountains.

A peaceful lakeside scene with traditional Japanese boats moored along the water's edge, surrounded by lush green trees and distant mountains shrouded in mist.

A man with a shaved head, wearing a white shirt, walking along a sidewalk in an urban area with trees and a fence, with Japanese characters on a sign in the background, all in black and white.

Close-up of a spider in the center of its web with green leafy plants in the background.

A cluster of pink, trumpet-shaped flowers surrounded by green leaves on a bush, with some water droplets on the petals.

A narrow paved road lined with lush green bushes and trees, with a forested mountain in the background under an overcast sky.

Traditional Japanese-style house with dark wooden exterior, surrounded by manicured bushes and stones in a Japanese garden setting.

A close-up of a thin stick with small leaves, resting on crumpled metallic foil.

Residential street in a hilly neighborhood with houses, trees, and power lines on a cloudy day.

Various skewered seafood dishes on white plates with handwritten price tags in Japanese yen, some garnished with green leafs, displayed on a table.

A cluttered workspace with a wooden paper sorter filled with newspapers and papers, a small plastic container, and a black tray with a red rim on a table with green and wooden surfaces.

A person wearing a striped top, apron, and blue head covering behind a fish display counter at a market, arranging fish on the counter with various fish packages on styrofoam trays visible.

An elderly man wearing glasses is shopping for seafood at a market, selecting fish from a refrigerated display case.

An elderly woman with short gray hair wearing a face mask, lace-patterned blouse, and multiple bracelets, standing in an indoor public space with posters and signs in the background.

A reflective safety vest on a person's back, made of shiny material with reflective strips and piping, worn over a long-sleeved shirt.

A man wearing a yellow safety helmet, face mask, and blue uniform, standing inside a train or subway, with a woman in the background.

Senior man wearing a fedora hat and glasses, with a backpack, seen from behind, walking in a mall or exhibition space with blurry posters and people in the background.

Three koi fish, yellow, white, and red, swimming near the edge of a pond with plants and rocks.

A carved wooden statue of a fierce, angry creature with a beard, holding a smaller figure and beads, with an open hollow chest and Japanese writing on a paper at the bottom.

View of a green field with a utility pole and wires outside a window, with buildings and a cloudy sky in the background.

Nighttime exterior view of a building with a vertical illuminated sign in Japanese, and a small parking space with a red car parked.

Two women visiting potted plants outside a traditional Japanese house with black wooden exterior and sliding doors, during daytime.

A garage or shed interior with various tools, storage boxes, and a white motor scooter parked on the floor.

Traditional Japanese house with tiled roof, surrounded by trees and shrubs, with a white van and a bicycle parked in its small driveway.

Two elderly people wearing face masks in a busy indoor market aisle; one with a white wide-brimmed hat and holding a booklet, the other with white hair and wearing a blue shirt, looking at produce on display.

A group of police officers and individuals wearing masks on a city street at night, with some officers gathering near a closed storefront with a rolling shutter. People are walking by, some looking at their phones, with a woman in the background on a

Pink flowering branches against a partly cloudy sky.

A person standing on a sidewalk at night, looking at their phone, wearing a large floppy hat, red jacket, and carrying a black backpack, next to storefront advertisements for matcha desserts.

Red and white taxi parked on a city street next to a crosswalk with pedestrians walking by. There are bicycles, a large building with a sign that reads "EKIMISE", and various street signs and advertisements visible.

Cityscape view of a river with a bridge spanning across it and buildings in the background under a cloudy sky.

A man wearing a dark shirt and red gloves is in the back of a truck or trailer, handling wooden planks and cables. There is a moving vehicle with blurred trees and buildings in the background, indicating an urban setting.

Silhouettes of two people, one on the left and one on the right, with a view of a cityscape through a large window or viewing area in the background.

Two people in silhouette looking out a large window over a cityscape with numerous buildings under a cloudy sky.

A black and white photograph of a man with dark hair, wearing a striped dress shirt, standing in a store and looking down at some items. Shelves with boxes and a glass cabinet are visible in the background.

Two pedestrians crossing the street in an urban setting with buildings and signage, one man holding a briefcase and smartphone, the other woman carrying large tote bags, all in black and white.

A person wearing a yellow jacket and carrying two bags walks down a busy city street with tall buildings, cars, and pedestrians.

A man in a white shirt eating at a small Japanese restaurant with a view through a serving window, with condiments and chopsticks on the counter.

A man wearing a construction helmet, glasses, and a black work jacket with yellow accents, looking down and reading a piece of paper in an indoor setting near shelves with cardboard boxes.

People working in a small food stall, with some customers waiting.

A street food vendor wearing a face mask and glasses preparing takoyaki, Japanese octopus balls, at a food stall with a rustic, aging background.

A person riding a bicycle on a city street during a rainstorm, with blurred background of cars and buildings.

A person riding a bicycle on a city street with motion blur background of cars and buildings.

A person riding a scooter on a busy city street amidst heavy rain, with cars and blurred background.

A person riding a scooter across a crosswalk in an urban area with busy storefronts and signs in the background.

A storefront with metal security shutters and a black railing. The sidewalk and street are visible, with a drainage grate on the street and some small debris near the curb. Shadows cast across part of the sidewalk and street.

A person with curly hair and a backpack stands with their back to the camera in a grayscale photo, with blurred figures in the background.

A busy city crosswalk with pedestrians crossing in various directions on a sunny day, surrounded by buildings with signs, including UNIQLO and Daiso, and traffic lights.

Black and white photo of a busy city street with pedestrians. In the foreground, a person with short hair is looking at the scene, while a blurred person walks by carrying a bag. The background shows a building with signs and advertisements.

A busy city street with pedestrians walking, some blurred by motion, in front of tall modern buildings. Some people are carrying bags or luggage, and there are chairs along the sidewalk. The image is in black and white.

Night view of a traditional Japanese building surrounded by well-manicured trees and bushes, with a signboard and lanterns near the entrance.

Silhouettes of tall buildings and a utility pole against a cloudy sky in a cityscape.

A blurry photo of pedestrians crossing a city street at a crosswalk, with some wearing masks and carrying bags, and a background of colorful shop signs.

Reflection of multiple people, including a man with glasses and a woman wearing a mask, taking photos in a window with a security camera sign in Japanese and English

A delivery scooter parked outside a shop, loaded with empty crates and a basket, next to a glass door with stickers and signs, on a paved sidewalk.

Close-up of a large, greenish-brown Buddha statue with a serene expression, set against a blue sky with some clouds.

Silhouettes of two people sitting on a bench by the water, with a cloudy sky in the background.

A black crow perched on a rusty wooden post holding a white rope, with rocky terrain in the background.

A man fishing on a rocky shoreline at dusk with the ocean in the background.

A bustling city street at night illuminated by numerous bright neon signs and billboards, with pedestrians walking along the sidewalk and some looking at their phones, blurred motion of a person in a yellow shirt in the foreground.

Nighttime scene of two workers in blue uniforms unloading boxes from a white truck with blue branding, on a city street with tall buildings and streetlights.

A person with short dark hair, seen from behind, wearing a martial arts gi with a belt and standing in a dojo with other practitioners.

An elderly man with gray hair, wearing a black shirt, is standing on a staircase in a train station, holding onto the handrail and looking to the side. A sign indicating the Yamanote Line is visible nearby.