on thing I see, feel and live in Japan. Mostly in Yokohama. i also burst on and link to other stuff here.Tumblr (3.0; @taotsu)http://taotsu.tumblr.com/<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/244d7e9d29df91fdde9fa7f11d2c18c0/tumblr_mnb5oeEQ1h1r2u1wro1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/taotsu-pro/8803419059/" title="No swimming at night">No swimming at night</a> on Flickr.</p><p><i>Via Flickr:</i><br/> 横浜 港南区 港南台/Yokohama Konandai<br/> かもめ団地/kamome danchi<br/> in 2013/4<br/></p>http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/51227282819http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/51227282819Sat, 25 May 2013 00:00:14 +0900横浜港南台かもめ団地団地YokohamaKonandaiKamome DanchiDanchi2013Aprilcanonixy digital 510 isInner Danchi Life<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/taotsu-pro/8797147212/"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3730/8797147212_7846483b37_z.jpg" alt="photo of trees with red, yellow and green leafs"/></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/taotsu-pro/8797142764/"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3707/8797142764_f2c1bbfa25_z.jpg" alt="photo of trees with red, yellow and green leafs"/></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/taotsu-pro/8786556527/"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8552/8786556527_87c7532ff7_z.jpg" alt="photo of trees with red, yellow and green leafs"/></a></p> <p>横浜 港南区 港南台/Yokohama Konandai ひばり団地/hibari danchi in 2012/12</p>http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/51134468869http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/51134468869Thu, 23 May 2013 16:00:45 +0900横浜港南台ひばり団地団地YokohamaKonandaiHibari DanchiDanchi2012Decemberiphone4sInner Danchi Life<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/34820cd1da5cff4fc14a9ba64416fa7e/tumblr_mmnkarYYB91qzd1nwo1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/5cf7cb44211426e884e530e823129098/tumblr_mmnkarYYB91qzd1nwo3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/d62b5d33482017eb14c3bd25c4e4d715/tumblr_mmnkarYYB91qzd1nwo5_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/41dc490e97e59fc0c7191f3b9bc8cf00/tumblr_mmnkarYYB91qzd1nwo2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/e1b7d8e56d63c8a48355a316c56c40ce/tumblr_mmnkarYYB91qzd1nwo6_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/22b1ede544bce3fc49a1e9e480d525c3/tumblr_mmnkarYYB91qzd1nwo4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><a class="tumblr_blog" href="http://cjwho.com/post/50195351439/monument-to-a-troubled-past-inside-the-enormous">cjwho</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2117506/Monument-troubled-past-Inside-crumbling-communist-HQ-Bulgaria-afford-maintain-demolish.html#ixzz2ShMsEpyg">Monument to a troubled past</a></p> </blockquote>http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/51127255307http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/51127255307Thu, 23 May 2013 13:23:31 +0900<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/ad7df731b41613be3c4c3529c9125936/tumblr_mn8gopw1u31r2u1wro1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/taotsu-pro/8786582901/" title="12 black rainbows">12 black rainbows</a> on Flickr.</p><p><i>Via Flickr:</i><br/> 横浜 港南区 港南台/Yokohama Konandai<br/> めじろ団地/mejiro danchi<br/> in 2012/10</p>http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/51126127563http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/51126127563Thu, 23 May 2013 13:05:13 +0900横浜港南台めじろ団地団地YokohamaKonandaiMejiro DanchiDanchi2012Octoberiphone4sInner Danchi Life<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6uuzjCbWy1qarjnpo1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6uuzjCbWy1qarjnpo2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><a class="tumblr_blog" href="http://darksilenceinsuburbia.tumblr.com/post/26844408966/chen-jiagang-smog-city-red-cliff-chongqing">darksilenceinsuburbia</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p><strong><a href="http://2photo.ru/en/post/28142">Chen Jiagang</a></strong>. Smog City.</p> <p>Red Cliff(Chongqing) （重庆）</p> <p>Chemcial plant in Changshou （长寿）</p> <p><a href="http://www.chenjiagang.com/"></a><a href="http://www.chenjiagang.com/"><a href="http://www.chenjiagang.com/">http://www.chenjiagang.com/</a></a></p> </blockquote> <p>Wow!</p>http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/51042815050http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/51042815050Wed, 22 May 2013 12:05:05 +0900<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/c5ef48781c2e38b430d330b5511e5445/tumblr_mn6j4jZecH1r2u1wro1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/taotsu-pro/8779247458/" title="Ghosting">Ghosting</a> on Flickr.</p><p><i>Via Flickr:</i><br/> 東京港区新橋 - Tokyo Shinbashi, in 2013/5</p>http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/51042631047http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/51042631047Wed, 22 May 2013 12:02:43 +0900東京港区新橋TokyoMinatoShinbashi2013Mayiphone4S<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/27a9c2a4300f482615ee096508b8cc90/tumblr_mn58vqlD7p1r2u1wro1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/taotsu-pro/8766290596/" title="green @ night">green @ night</a> on Flickr.</p><p><i>Via Flickr:</i><br/> 横浜 港南区 港南台/Yokohama Konandai<br/> かもめ団地/Kamome danchi<br/> in 2013/5<br/></p>http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/50980918844http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/50980918844Tue, 21 May 2013 19:23:50 +0900横浜港南台かみめ団地団地YokohamaKonandaiKamome DanchiDanchi2013Mayiphone4SInner Danchi Life<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/8208bc4dc3f36bb4a67444b63e753f2b/tumblr_mn586nQXJY1r2u1wro1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/taotsu-pro/8763490133/" title="Flower Power">Flower Power</a> on Flickr.</p><p><i>Via Flickr:</i><br/> 横浜 港南区 港南台/Yokohama Konandai<br/> めじろ団地/mejiro danchi<br/> in 2012/3</p>http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/50980470934http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/50980470934Tue, 21 May 2013 19:08:47 +0900横浜港南台めじろ団地団地YokohamaKonandaiMejiro DanchiDanchi2012Marchiphone3gsClassicTOYInner Danchi Life<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/d075e7c5f2e3b50297e94142d381aa86/tumblr_mn3v8qwFQl1s7f3fyo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://natgeofound.tumblr.com/post/50914624180/a-married-student-studies-as-his-wife-serves" class="tumblr_blog">natgeofound</a>:</p> <blockquote><p>A married student studies as his wife serves dinner to their daughter in Coral Gables, Florida, November 1950.<br/><span>Photograph by Volkmar K. Wentzel, National Geographic</span></p></blockquote> <p>Times have changed!!</p>http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/50947172214http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/50947172214Tue, 21 May 2013 09:07:34 +0900<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/369c96e588677cd7f91b8b621d8ffac3/tumblr_mmzucpgnZF1qa94kpo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://highlandvalley.tumblr.com/post/50723334074" class="tumblr_blog">highlandvalley</a>:</p> <blockquote><p><a href="http://tr.twipple.jp/p/d9/371825.html">お父さんと子供ふたりでつくってた！！！すげー！ </a></p></blockquote> <p>Wow!!! Amazing</p>http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/50899890782http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/50899890782Mon, 20 May 2013 20:08:18 +0900<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/taotsu-pro/8746275815/in/photostream/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7285/8746275815_a2b3524c87_b_d.jpg" alt="a photo by taotsu - hanging"/></a></p>http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/50793059243http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/50793059243Sun, 19 May 2013 15:00:25 +0900横浜港南台ひばり団地団地YokohamaKonandaiHibari DanchiDanchi2012Apriliphone3gsClassicToyInner Danchi Life<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/taotsu-pro/8747380396/in/photostream"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8537/8747380396_ab68c4e286_b_d.jpg" alt="photo by taotsu - shadow played"/></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/taotsu-pro/8746260723/in/photostream"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8538/8746260723_2ec3b7ea08_b_d.jpg" alt="photo by taotsu - shadow played"/></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/taotsu-pro/8747382834/in/photostream"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8399/8747382834_6b1712c891_b_d.jpg" alt="photo by taotsu - shadow played"/></a></p>http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/50710591785http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/50710591785Sat, 18 May 2013 15:00:32 +0900横浜港南台めじろ団地団地YokohamaKonandaiMejiro DanchiDanchi2012September2013Apriliphone4sInner Danchi Life<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/d0afa553a6c98947250283aa4327ff14/tumblr_mmx3nagZze1r9943oo5_r1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/80b3f7cda3246bd821934823e06abb08/tumblr_mmx3nagZze1r9943oo1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/7dc0db46e1fd193f13656de50d92fd94/tumblr_mmx3nagZze1r9943oo4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/45011b79c999ed8b78742476c07c8257/tumblr_mmx3nagZze1r9943oo3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><a href="http://abandonedography.com/post/50616660197/st-pauls-church-abandoned-boarded-up-and-for" class="tumblr_blog">abandonedography</a>:</p> <blockquote><p>St Paul’s Church - Abandoned, boarded-up, and for sale by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/atoach/">Tim Green</a></p></blockquote> <p>I take one!</p>http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/50635839371http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/50635839371Fri, 17 May 2013 14:42:39 +0900<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/2521c51f600ebe1536a489b1bba2e273/tumblr_mmxddcQMtf1r2u1wro1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><h1><a href="http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/50631864375/inner-danchi-life-what-is-a-danchi-danchi">Inner Danchi Life</a></h1> <h2>What is a danchi?</h2> <p>> <strong>Danchi</strong> (団地 lit. “group land”) is the Japanese word for a large cluster of apartment buildings of a particular style and design, typically built as public housing by a government authority.</p> <p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danchi">Wikipedia Entry</a></p> <p>I would not say that aboves wikipedia definition of a danichi captures it fully. Danchis have a long history, beginning in the 1920s (though then not yet called danchi as far as I know), being build to provide housing for the masses of people loosing their homes after the last big Kanto Earthquake in 1923.</p> <p>Some very old danchi can still be visited in Tokyo - Aoyama, though the oldest has been torn down and now replaced with a shopping center.</p> <p>(Excuse me while I go somewhere to scream.)</p> <p>Danchi still exist all over Japan. I live in a danichi since 2009 – mine has been build in 1974 as one of the first of a set of danchi in a suburb of Yokohama.</p> <p>So what is a danchi? Apperently a danchi is a housing complex, either build by a local government or a corporation. It can range from a set of 5 to 50 houses, maybe even more. It can be just a housing complex or even be a small city. (When I was a German teacher, a student once told me about a danchi that had its on set of supermarket, clinics and even kindergardens and schools. I have yet to find that place.)</p> <p>I am very much facinated by the ideals and architectural extremism of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Corbusier">Le Corbusier</a>. I sometimes wonder if his ideas and ideals have informt the style and building of danchi’s in Japan.</p> <p>The danchi’s I have visited so far range from coin lockers to a standard 70’s housing (like the one I live in) to danchis that are made up of 2 floor houses and look like a collection on one family homes.</p> <p>I have seen some (and hope to buy <a href="http://www.amazon.co.jp/Housing-Postwar-Japan-Social-History/dp/0700715177/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=UT0SOHF2F6VB&coliid=I3Q8I8XT2XL5BJ">one</a>) really great books on the topic! Sadly not too cheap…</p> <hr><h2>Why do I roam danchi’s?</h2> <p>Well, for more then 4 years I do live in a Danchi. Blessed, it is a great place to live. Also, my housing complex did not suffer after the 3/11 quake in 2011. I went around the houses and nothing.</p> <p>That is another point: Danchi’s do reflect Japan. I want to point to two things in particular:</p> <ol><li>When my Danchi was build in 1974, it was state of the art housing. People actually had to win a lottery to get a flat there. They where build for young families, that wanted to escape the crammed 1K or 1DK flats in old apartment buildings (they still exist, called アパトー [Apatoo, from Eng. Apartment]).</li> <li>Nowadays Danchi’s are filled with old people. One can still see some families, especially in Danchi’s which are well maintained, like my own, but I would count for 40% older inhabitants. This is the exact mirror of the Japanese society. Over aging. Younger families with money rather live in a Mansion (which is just a modern Housing Complex, usually in one to five Buildings). Danchi’s are for older people and those young families with smaller income.</li> </ol><p>Also: since Danich’s where build as small cities, or small communities, many do have amenities like small swimming pools (expect many photos of these, which nowadays are not used anymore; also check the photo above!) and other things. I try to find and document what is there.</p> <p>Since I love old things and Danchi’s are among the oldest architectural structure still to be found in this great country, these are the places to go and find great stuff (and hey I found two <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/taotsu-pro/4809467746/in/set-72157624537300788">camera</a> in my Danchi’s trash![the second one still needs a lot of cleaning…]).</p> <hr><h2>What is this?</h2> <p>This is might become some kind of photographic documentary. Or just a link list of my own photos.</p> <p>I came to the idea, because I love photography, but I simply did not have the time to upload stuff with the quality I want to flickr. Also I did not have the money to focus on film, which is still my stick!</p> <p>My hope is to do something like a “one photo per day” thing but with these guides (no rules, rules are useless, I break them):</p> <ol><li>upload at least 1 (or as much more as useful) photo per day</li> <li>link only my own images (from flickr)</li> <li>photos must be taken inside of a Danchi (outside shots can be added as extra)</li> <li>try to do it for a year</li> </ol><p>I don’t care about things like a certain order or if all photos are from the same batch. This is mainly a self ass kick to finally do more with my 16 cameras again, but also an expression of my love for Danchi’s.</p> <p>I expect to write some follow up posts with some info about each Danchi I visit. If anyone likes to contribute, <a href="http://twitter.com/taotsu">contact me</a>.</p> <hr><h2>Why that title?</h2> <p>Well, I long love a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoV85P4L8kI">certain track</a> by Goldie. That’s the title there for you! Inner City Life.</p>http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/50631864375http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/50631864375Fri, 17 May 2013 13:23:00 +0900横浜港南台めじろ団地団地YokohamaKonandaiMejiro DanchiDanchi2013Januaryiphone4sInner Danchi Life<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/dde6a81d74ce2c59affe862f9a44abe5/tumblr_mmrhm4fhPs1r9943oo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a class="tumblr_blog" href="http://abandonedography.com/post/50423922145/the-control-room-of-the-abandoned-transformer">abandonedography</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p><span>The control room of the abandoned transformer house at Kelenföld Power Plant. The building was designed by Virgil Borbíró and was constructed during 1927-1929. The huge opal glass ceiling gives the room an unspeakable atmosphere. However the Power Plant is still operational this building is abandoned and not being used.</span></p> <p>By <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackdogone/5112174688/sizes/l/">blackdog</a></p> </blockquote> <p>Wow!</p>http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/50496858177http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/50496858177Wed, 15 May 2013 23:23:27 +0900<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/8bac5fa03ce0d53ea2d7fbdd3fb51591/tumblr_mmspegw7Yz1s7f3fyo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a class="tumblr_blog" href="http://natgeofound.tumblr.com/post/50424709649/people-strolling-through-a-park-finland-during-a">natgeofound</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p>People strolling through a park Finland during a wet May snowstorm, 1968.<br/><span>Photograph by George F. Mobley, National Geographic</span></p> </blockquote> <p>awesome!</p>http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/50496831378http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/50496831378Wed, 15 May 2013 23:22:50 +0900<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/9e639bc557658747a9ed7112d0773a8e/tumblr_mmqv135Ksw1s7f3fyo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://natgeofound.tumblr.com/post/50346877414/bathing-beauties-emerge-from-a-solarium-a" class="tumblr_blog">natgeofound</a>:</p> <blockquote><p>Bathing beauties emerge from a “solarium” (a tanning booth), in St. Petersburg, Florida, June 1929.<br/><span>Photograph by Clifton R. Adams, National Geographic</span></p></blockquote>http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/50409815653http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/50409815653Tue, 14 May 2013 17:56:54 +0900<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/760b203be116fd8abcaaa5cdddcabb8f/tumblr_mmrdth9nfo1s7jtjoo1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/ef9a2bf7333e5639c0980bb2fc667463/tumblr_mmrdth9nfo1s7jtjoo2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/c2babaceb25638f6179635b9ebc86282/tumblr_mmrdth9nfo1s7jtjoo3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/97e31128ad7f3f97eae6db439676e761/tumblr_mmrdth9nfo1s7jtjoo4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/df58fd551cac8b9b70f298a87b306073/tumblr_mmrdth9nfo1s7jtjoo5_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/c8abc02d7881d82e389a584979a33b27/tumblr_mmrdth9nfo1s7jtjoo6_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/5539685ca0d0b18e4991bf4ae8e5e514/tumblr_mmrdth9nfo1s7jtjoo7_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/57611fa6d232afb814659bd86689354d/tumblr_mmrdth9nfo1s7jtjoo8_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/e8f2b6b5141da8d246fdea496f9c57eb/tumblr_mmrdth9nfo1s7jtjoo9_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/4db05a62bb3746ff12cc55c7a10f6106/tumblr_mmrdth9nfo1s7jtjoo10_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><a href="http://log.abandonedplaygrounds.com/post/50373560693/a-whole-series-of-abandoned-cars-beautiful" class="tumblr_blog">abandoned-playgrounds</a>:</p> <blockquote><p>A whole series of abandoned cars. Beautiful, rusted, decayed, and slowly being absorbed by nature. </p> <p>View more of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74458080@N00/sets/72157594399325573/"> Kustommghia Flickr Gallery</a> for his whole set!</p></blockquote>http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/50409663221http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/50409663221Tue, 14 May 2013 17:50:36 +0900<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/6088c68807567b2d79ba36fd62d54a58/tumblr_mmfrykslkk1s7f3fyo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://natgeofound.tumblr.com/post/49860800250/east-german-women-harvesting-sugar-beets" class="tumblr_blog">natgeofound</a>:</p> <blockquote><p>East German women harvesting sugar beets, September 1974.<br/><span>Photograph by Gordon Gahan, National Geographic</span></p></blockquote> <p>Schoolkids had to go on summer trips, helping out on the fields in the 60s. My father told me sometimes about it.</p>http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/49986734067http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/49986734067Thu, 09 May 2013 12:12:00 +0900<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/e704065e4d6257636302485570930038/tumblr_mmhlrsJaaE1s7f3fyo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://natgeofound.tumblr.com/post/49938699378/girls-watch-artist-painting-picture-of-statue-of" class="tumblr_blog">natgeofound</a>:</p> <blockquote><p>Girls watch artist painting picture of statue of Flemish artist in Bruges, Belgium, May 1955.<br/><span>Photograph by Luis Marden, National Geographic</span></p></blockquote> <p>WOW!</p>http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/49983176713http://taotsu.tumblr.com/post/49983176713Thu, 09 May 2013 11:27:42 +0900