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A person walks across a zebra crossing, holding a bright red umbrella. They wear white trousers and carry a colourful bag.

Yoshinori Mizutani captures the colourful, rain soaked commuters of Tokyo

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Date
28 April 2016

“I always thought of rain as something gloomy and unpleasant,” says Tokyo-based Yoshinori Mizutani. “One day, however I stepped out into the city and realised how rain can alter our everyday landscape.” The photographer has shot a number of pedestrian crossings from an elevated vantage point as the citizens and traffic pass below. The monochromatic rhythm of the wet tarmac and road paint is interrupted by people dressed in brightly coloured clothes or passing traffic. The images are a vibrant snapshot of life on a grey day that that are carefully composed to preserve each individual’s anonymity. “Even the most mundane details such as wet ground and rain drops can reveal a whole new world to us if we observe them from a slightly different angle,” says Yoshinori. “Rain is one of my continuing attempts to present a new perspective and interpretation towards our often overlooked daily phenomenon.”

Yoshinori was featured on It’s Nice That in 2014 with his Tokyo Parrots project which went on to win the photographer international acclaim. His first UK solo show opens at the Webber Gallery Space on 20 May.

A high-angle shot of a person crossing a zebra crossing under a black umbrella. The stark white stripes contrast against the dark, wet asphalt.
Above

Yoshinori Mizutani: Rain

A high-angle shot of a zebra crossing with bold black and white stripes. Two people walk across the road, one holding a bright blue umbrella and the other a red one.
Above

Yoshinori Mizutani: Rain

A high-angle shot of a person crossing a wet black road under a bright blue umbrella with white floral patterns. They walk across a white zebra crossing, leaving a small trail of footprints on the dark asphalt.
Above

Yoshinori Mizutani: Rain

A yellow taxi drives across a bold black and white striped zebra crossing. The car is viewed from a high angle, positioned diagonally across the stripes.
Above

Yoshinori Mizutani: Rain

People cross a zebra crossing in the rain, carrying a variety of colourful umbrellas. The high-angle shot captures the rhythmic pattern of the white stripes against the dark, wet road.
Above

Yoshinori Mizutani: Rain

A blurred, out-of-focus shot of a bright yellow tree against a blue sky. White bokeh spots and streaks of light are scattered across the frame, creating a rainy or snowy effect.
Above

Yoshinori Mizutani: Rain

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About the Author

Owen Pritchard

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Owen joined It’s Nice That as Editor in November of 2015 leading and overseeing all editorial content across online, print and the events programme, before leaving in early 2018.

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