入 間 市 J O H N S O N T O W N
35.8329° N, 139.3990° E Johnson Town, Saitama, Kanto
A SET OF PHOTOGRAPHS
BY Aloysius GohJohnson Town is a collection of meticulously preserved American suburban homes from the first half of the 1950s supporting the Americans working at the Irumagawa Airfield. Due to its locality and historical function, it is the only town in Japan where one can truly experience an old American vernacular. Over time, the changing idealogy towards the Amercian culture had transformed the locality into a hipster town. Strolling through the town, one can immerse themselves in an American atmosphere tailored for the Japanese with many cafes, and small shops selling and exhibiting books and art.
Filled with spatial nuances, small pathways between houses create an adventure through the neighborhood, peeking from corners and discovering the character of each residence with unintentional surprises within these pathways that lead back to Main Street.
I visited the town in the late afternoon in summer, and stayed till evening during the golden hour. The series of photographs captures the soft sunset light that shines deep into the various spaces encapsulating the true character and ambiance of how I felt then. I too had the opportunity to try out the pizza, pasta and coffee from the cafes. So be sure to visit the cafes and compelling American, Japanese-themed shops too!
