Here are the latest photos I captured with my Leica APO-Summicron-M 35 f/2 ASPH lens. These samples showcase how effectively this lens performs across diverse settings, conditions, and subjects, thus providing a comprehensive look at its real-world performance. These should help you decide if the Leica APO-Summicron-M 35 f/2 ASPH lens could be the perfect addition to your kit.
In Japan, one of the most satisfying and popular meal combos is ramen paired with gyoza. Found in countless ramen shops across the country, this classic duo offers a perfect balance of flavors and textures. The steaming hot bowl of ramen, rich with umami-packed broth, chewy noodles, and toppings like chashu pork and green onions,…
Railways are an essential part of daily life in Japan. More than just a means of transportation, trains shape how people move, work, and live across the country. With one of the most advanced railway networks in the world, Japan relies on its trains to keep society running smoothly and efficiently. One of the key…
Spotted in a quiet Japanese neighborhood, this white Mazda MX-5 Miata stands out not just for its clean lines and compact stance, but for its clear nod to car culture. Sporting bolt-on overfenders, deep-dish wheels, and a quirky decal on the door featuring the Japanese “wakaba” mark (a symbol for beginner drivers). The katakana text…
The signs are sun-faded, yellowing, nailed to old wood paneling like reminders no one reads anymore. Instructions in stiff fonts and red warnings, next to a 50-yen softener dispenser that’s probably older than half the buildings on the block. The washing machines sit open-mouthed, white and worn, humming with memory. Outside, light filters through patterned…
The delightfully nostalgic Japanese ジャンケンマン (“Jankenman”) arcade machine—a Showa-era gem that’s equal parts kitsch and charm. The machine, made by Sunwise, is based on janken (rock-paper-scissors), the classic hand game that’s settled more schoolyard debates in Japan than any courtroom ever could. The LED display in the center is showing the “peace” or “scissors” sign, and players use the…
Sunday in Akihabara—Tokyo’s Electric Town—is a surreal experience. By noon, the main street, Chuo Dori, shuts down to traffic and turns into a pedestrian zone. Locals, tourists, cosplayers, and camera crews take over the asphalt. The street becomes a moving showcase of otaku culture: anime shirts, bags stuffed with merch, kids filming TikToks in cosplay,…
You step off the main road and find this place — a battered ramen shop squeezed between concrete walls. The yellowed menu, printed in big red numbers, screams cheap prices: 650 yen, 750 yen, no-frills. A cartoon pig clutches a bowl of noodles on the glass door, half peeled from the sun. Inside, the world…
Tokyo has a surprising number of canals, a legacy from when it was known as Edo. The city’s network of rivers, canals, and moats supported commerce, transport, and defense. Today, many of these waterways still exist, though their roles have shifted. Central Tokyo’s Nihonbashi area preserves some of the oldest canals, once the beating heart…
Old American pinball machines have a kind of gritty charm that mixes mechanical clatter with bright, unapologetic style. They’re loud—buzzers, bells, and the solid thunk of a steel ball smacking a bumper. Unlike today’s digital games, there’s nothing soft or polite about them. They’re all muscle: spring-loaded plungers, flashing lights, hand-painted artwork of cowboys, space…
Taishakuten, formally known as Shibamata Taishakuten Daikyō-ji (柴又帝釈天題経寺), is a Buddhist temple in Tokyo’s Katsushika ward. It’s dedicated to Taishakuten (帝釈天), the Japanese name for Śakra (or Indra), a deity often seen as a guardian figure in Buddhist cosmology. The temple has been an anchor of the Shibamata (柴又) neighborhood since 1629 and is known for its distinct mix…
