Zōkyō

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, Children of all ages…

Come one, Come all…

Behold the latest unseen fandangled enigmatic discoveries of the known universe, all under one tent. Bewildering oddities to seize your imaginations and mysteries of wonderment to steal your hearts. It truly must be seen to be believed.

Do not be fooled by the artistry of this creation. No doubt there was a unhinged passion in the uncovering of these peculiar phenomenons, yet their marvel is unto themselves, never to be seen until now, before your very eyes!

It is with great honor to WELCOME YOU TO THE BERZIRCUS!!!

I am black on the outside, clad in a wrinkled cover,
Yet within I bear a burning marrow.
I season delicacies, the banquets of kings, and the luxuries of the table,
Both the sauces and the tenderized meats of the kitchen.
But you will find in me no quality of any worth,
Unless your bowels have been rattled by my gleaming marrow.

I went out to Kita Senju a week ago to help a friend with project that took the better part of the day. In the afternoon when we finished, she offered to drive back home, an hour across town, by train or car, as she was going that way. I decided to stay in the neighborhood and take some photos for the sunset and catch the train back later in the evening.

I had first become interested in Kita Senju after seeing a photo in Daido Moriyama’s book, “Stray Dog.” I’ve searched for the photo everywhere but can’t find it. I believe it is of this woman, who was maybe some sorta underground Japanese B actress who never became the Kabuki actress she may have aspired to be. In the photo I am talking about, she is between performances, playing a Japanese card came called Hanafuda with Moriyama taking her photo from above. I vaguely remember the story behind the photo being that Kita Senju was where the underground bohemian art and theatre scene was in the early 60′s and was the location of many student riots. Many of the people hanging out there, maybe this woman too, were sorta outcasts from the Ginza Art and Kabuki scene. There allegedly was a drug scene as well as a gay scene and I also heard that this is where Butoh was born. Somebody told me that in one of the many small theatres of Kitasenju, an early butoh performance involved a chicken getting humped or strangled or both, which emblazoned Kita Senju as the counterculture outpost of Tokyo in the 60′s. I guess I heard most of this stuff by word or mouth and I have no idea if any of its true…

Anyway, after seeing that photo and hearing those stories, my curiosity about the area has remained piqued despite only having visited twice. And though I was told these stories some 5 years ago, it wasn’t until about about 3 months ago that I went for the first time. That time I wondered around the south side of the stations and found lots of wonderful nooks and crannies, and met some very interesting people.

Last Friday, I explored the north side of the station and think I may have found a few remnants of its bohemian past. I took lots of film and will tell the rest of the story with those photos. But for now here are a few odds and ends…

A funky camera shop specializing in Chimpanzee, Cat, and Skydiving photography…

And the local Soap King…

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite

A wonderful chap and photographer friend who blew through Tokyo like a bad outta hell. Here’s to you, ace…

Sunday morning
Brings the dawn in
It’s just a restless feeling by my side
Early dawning
Sunday morning
It’s just the wasted years so close behind
Watch out the world’s behind you
There’s always someone around you who will call
It’s nothing at all

Sunday morning
And I’m falling
I’ve got a feeling I don’t want to know
Early dawning
Sunday morning
It’s all the streets you crossed, not so long ago
Watch out the world’s behind you
There’s always someone around you who will call
It’s nothing at all


-L. Reed, J. Cale

These were taken with the Kiev 6C Camera, an Arsat C 80mm f2.8 lens and Shanghai GP3 Pan film.

Please feel free to have a look at my new photo website brianscottpeterson.com. I will be updating it over the coming weeks so bookmark it and come back often…Thanks!

Brian