Culture

Postcards: Calvin Chin in Japan

Foreign exchange

Posted by Acclaim

21.11.15: Day trip visiting Arashiyama in Kyoto. Making the most of the Autumn weather and colours.

24.12.15: Christmas Eve dinner in Tokyo at a Western steak restaurant.

01.01.16: New Years Day in Tokyo. Empty streets as everyone is at temple.

23.12.15: Accommodation in Tokyo just outside Shinjuku.

03.10.15: 5am – an underground bar in Shibuya.

28.11.15: Day trip visiting Nara. Embracing the final week of Autumn.

12.01.16: Cheap karaoke in Kyobashi with new friends and melon Fanta.

09.12.15: Kansai Gaidai’s senior rugby team. A massive win for the final home game of the season.

15.12.15: Farewell dinner for KGU International students in Hirakata.

21.12.15: Exploring new hidden bars in the Gion Shijo alleyways in Kyoto.

09.10.15: Late nights in Gion Shijo. Last train at 11:30pm or first train at 5.15am.

05.09.15: First visit to Dotonbori in Osaka. Exploring the streets and the neon signage.

Any excuse for a stint overseas is a good one, in our eyes, whether it be for work, study, or even the dreaded family vacay. Brisbane photographer Calvin Chin spent the end of 2015 on exchange in Tokyo and, unsurprisingly, spent a lot of time exploring it and other major Japanese cities, as well as taking a few day trips to the more regional areas of the island nation. Captured in black-and-white, it’s a slightly alternative view of the country that is normally a sensory overload but still highlights the stark contrasts and beauty found there. Take a look at the series above.