Synopses & Reviews
andlt;bandgt;This photographic Tokyo travel guide explores the dynamic Japanese culture, art and architecture that make Tokyo a world-class city.andlt;/bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;It has been said that "every city has its high points, but Tokyo is all exclamation points!" The largest and most populous city in the world, Tokyo must be experienced in person to truly be understood. The next best thing? andlt;iandgt;Tokyo Megacityandlt;/iandgt;and#8212;a visual and descriptive exploration of a city that combines old with new and traditional with trendy, like no other city in the world.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;This extraordinary book explores Tokyo through 250 revealing photographs by well-known photographer Ben Simmons and over 30 essays by famed author Donald Richie. Their love of the city, their sense of its history, and the deep respect and pure joy felt in being here, shine through on every page. Simmons and Richie show us how modern Tokyo evolved from a patchwork of villages that still exist today as distinct neighborhoods and districts, to the modern, trendsetting metropolis renowned the world overand#8212;that combine to make Tokyo a unique and special place.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;iandgt;Tokyo Megacityandlt;/iandgt; presents the districts of the city in the order that they originally developed, starting with the Imperial Palace, sliding down to the "Low City" along the Sumida River, soaring back up to the "Mid-City," and finally, climbing the hills to the newer districts of the "High City." The combination of Ben Simmons' photographs and Donald Richie's text capture, as never before, the tremendous diversity, vitality and sheer livability of the megacity that is Tokyo.
Review
"A splendid tour through the 'real' Tokyo." and#8212;andlt;bandgt;andlt;iandgt;Japan Timesandlt;/iandgt;andlt;/bandgt;
Review
andlt;divandgt;"andhellip;this book should retain some lasting value."and#8212;andlt;iandgt;Metropolisandlt;/iandgt;andlt;/divandgt;
Review
"A splendid tour through the 'real' Tokyo."—Japan Times
Review
"…this book should retain some lasting value."—Metropolis
Review
"andhellip;this book should retain some lasting value." and#8212;andlt;bandgt;andlt;iandgt;Metropolisandlt;/iandgt;andlt;/bandgt;
Review
"This extraordinary book explores Tokyo through 250 revealing photographs by well-known photographer Ben Simmons and over 30 essays by famed author Donald Richie. Their love of the city, their sense of its history, and the deep respect and pure joy felt in being here, shine through on every page. Simmons and Richie show us how modern Tokyo evolved from a patchwork of villages that still exist today as distinct neighborhoods and districts, to the modern, trendsetting metropolis renowned the world overand#8212;that combine to make Tokyo a unique and special place." and#8212; andlt;bandgt;Just One Cookbookandlt;/bandgt;
Synopsis
Modern Tokyo is a city of strata, in which the patchwork of villages that make its surface so varied are matched by the slices of the past that remain. The city combines the old and the new, and is both traditional and trendy. This diversity, this variety, this livability, this adventure is captured in both the text and the photographs of andlt;iandgt;Tokyo Megacityandlt;/Iandgt;.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;A visual and verbal exploration of Tokyo, now the largest city in the world, this gorgeous book features approximately 250 photos by well-known photographer Ben Simmons, accompanied by 31 essays by author Donald Richie. A new look at an astonishing city, andlt;iandgt;Tokyo Megacityandlt;/Iandgt; begins with an exploration of the ancient roots of old Edo and follows the evolution of the city to modern day.
Synopsis
This photographic Tokyo travel guide explores the dynamic Japanese culture, art and architecture that make Tokyo a world-class city.
It has been said that "every city has its high points, but Tokyo is all exclamation points " The largest and most populous city in the world, Tokyo must be experienced in person to truly be understood. The next best thing? Tokyo Megacity a visual and descriptive exploration of a city that combines old with new and traditional with trendy, like no other city in the world.
This extraordinary book explores Tokyo through 250 revealing photographs by well-known photographer Ben Simmons and over 30 essays by famed author Donald Richie. Their love of the city, their sense of its history, and the deep respect and pure joy felt in being here, shine through on every page. Simmons and Richie show us how modern Tokyo evolved from a patchwork of villages that still exist today as distinct neighborhoods and districts, to the modern, trendsetting metropolis renowned the world over that combine to make Tokyo a unique and special place.
Tokyo Megacity presents the districts of the city in the order that they originally developed, starting with the Imperial Palace, sliding down to the "Low City" along the Sumida River, soaring back up to the "Mid-City," and finally, climbing the hills to the newer districts of the "High City." The combination of Ben Simmons' photographs and Donald Richie's text capture, as never before, the tremendous diversity, vitality and sheer livability of the megacity that is Tokyo."
Synopsis
Tokyo is the largest city in the world. Yet, it is also one of the world’s most livable cities. Despite all the apparent modernity, Tokyo lies on traditional ground. Under the newest high rises lie the lineaments of old Edo, the city it once was.
Modern Tokyo is a city of strata, in which the patchwork of villages that make its surface so varied are matched by the slices of the past that remain, scattered on the face of the place, and by the new forms of the old traditions that so enliven it.
In Tokyo Megacity, we follow the city’s geography, starting with what is now the Imperial palace, then sliding downhill to the low city, then up to the mid-city, then climbing the hills to the high city. While following the city’s geography, we also trace its chronology. We see the city evolving from its early beginnings to its most modern manifestations, from Asakusa, down by the Sumida River, through the shopping district of midtown Ginza, and on up to the latest pleasure palaces of Roppongi, Shinjuku and beyond.
Ben Simmons in his photographs and Donald Richie in his text capture, like nowhere before, this tremendous diversity, this variety, this livability, this adventure of megacity Tokyo.
Synopsis
A visual and verbal exploration of Tokyo, the largest city in the world
Synopsis
Modern Tokyo is a city of strata, in which the patchwork of villages that make its surface so varied are matched by the slices of the past that remain. The city combines the old and the new, and is both traditional and trendy. This diversity, this variety, this livability, this adventure is captured in both the text and the photographs of
Tokyo Megacity.
A visual and verbal exploration of Tokyo, now the largest city in the world, this gorgeous book features approximately 250 photos by well-known photographer Ben Simmons, accompanied by 31 essays by author Donald Richie. A new look at an astonishing city, Tokyo Megacity begins with an exploration of the ancient roots of old Edo and follows the evolution of the city to modern day.
About the Author
andlt;bandgt;Donald Richieandlt;/bandgt;, novelist, essayist, composer, journalist, and film scholar, was born in Ohio but spent most of life witnessing and reporting on the transformation of Japan from the postwar devastation to its economic resurgence. He was the author of some forty books of fiction and nonfiction, dozens of speeches and essays, and hundreds of book, film, and arts reviews.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;bandgt;Ben Simmonsandlt;/bandgt; studied photography and psychology before completing a Master of Fine Arts in photography and art history. He taught photography at Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina before relocating to Japan. Owner of Ben Simmons Photography Inc., he travels the world to capture evocative images for assignments, photo essays, books, and original prints. Recent books include andlt;iandgt;Traditional Japanese Architectureandlt;/iandgt; and andlt;iandgt;Kyoto: City of Zenandlt;/iandgt;.