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LIFE WORK

TOKYO SENTO PHOTOGRAPH

Origin of sentou photographs

Why did you choose sentou for a photographic theme? I was often asked this question.
I started shooting sentou in 2006.
When I was starting my career as a photographer of professional architecture, I began taking photos of a sentou that I used to go to as practice for shooting buildings.
Just at that time, the Suginami Ward Sentou Association had their 80th anniversary, and when talking about this activity, I was gladly given permission to take photos of sentou.
With the permission of the association, I was able to shoot almost all of the sentou in the same district.
As I was shooting them over and over, I became more interested in sentou as a photographic subject, so I started to take photos of other sentou in Tokyo.

The Power of Photographs

I have photographed about 200 Sentou so far.
It feels tasteless to make it into a number, however, shooting in the state where the association's backup was gone made this activity dramatic.
If a man the owner has never seen or heard suddenly wants to take a picture of sentou, it's natural that the owner won`t cheerfully say "please go ahead,”
instead they sometimes get angry and say “what`s this all about?” and report me as a suspicious person and various things like that.
On days when I did not have work, I would make an appointment, but only a few owners or landladies of sentou allowed me to take photos.
During this time there was a situation where I took a picture of a sentou before it was demolished. When I went to show the finished photos to the landlady, she was pleased and said, "It's been a nice memorial event,” with a mix of tears and a smiling face. On that day I was really able to understand a little about what it means to take photographs. After that I began my activities with Tokyo sentou in earnest.

The life of taking photos

When I started shooting, I focused on taking pictures as "clean as possible," however I gradually began to think that I wanted to take pictures of the everyday appearance of sentou little by little.
Even though houses with baths have become common, at sentou people gather, take a bath, and go home. Sentou quietly support that daily life, and I started feeling that I wanted to capture this in photos just as it is.

There are people who come to sentou, looking at the pictures.
The photograph is a catalyst for recalling the sentou which closed down.
I do not know what kind of opportunity will be given to those who see the activity of Tokyo sentou, but I think that this activity is part of the role of photographers.

Inariyu

2018 Kita-ku Tokyo Japan

Dainihinodeyu

2017 Ota-ku Tokyo Japan

Hananoyu

2017 Itabashi-ku Tokyo Japan

Daikokuyu

2017 Meguro-ku Tokyo Japan

Akebonoyu

2016 Adachi-ku Tokyo Japan

Fujinoyu

2016 Nerima-ku Tokyo Japan

Rokuryukosen

2016 Taito-ku Tokyo Japan

Tatsunoyu

2016 Nerima-ku Tokyo Japan

Atamiyu

2015 Shinjuku-ku Tokyo Japan

Teikokuyu

2015 Arakawa-ku Tokyo Japan

Misujiyu

2014 Taito-ku Tokyo Japan

Myojinyu

2011 Ota-ku Tokyo Japan

Dainikotobukiyu

2010 Edogawa-ku Tokyo Japan

Tsurunoyu

2010 Edogawa-ku Tokyo Japan

Tokiwayu

2009 Koto-ku Tokyo Japan

Takenoyu

2009 Koto-ku Tokyo Japan

Hikifuneyu

2009 Sumida-ku Tokyo Japan

Grand yu

2009 Sumida-ku Tokyo Japan

Dainitakarayu

2009 Katsushika-ku Tokyo Japan

Yoshinoyu

2008 Katsushika-ku Tokyo Japan

Atamiyu

2008 Katsushika-ku Tokyo Japan

Togiyokujou

2008 Arakawa-ku Tokyo Japan

Tamanoyu

2008 Arakawa-ku Tokyo Japan

Unsuiyu

2008 Arakawa-ku Tokyo Japan

Saitoyu

2008 Arakawa-ku Tokyo Japan

Hottayu

2007 Adachi-ku Tokyo Japan

Takarayu

2007 Adachi-ku Tokyo Japan

Kaisaiyu

2007 Taito-ku Tokyo Japan

Saharayokusen

2007 Adachi-ku Tokyo Japan

© 2018 Imada photo service