Most of what is here was made in the streets of Ikebukuro and the areas next to it.

“It is more than ten years ago that I moved into a flat in an old building in what is now West Ikebukuro. Up to that point I'd been devoting myself first and foremost to the Shinjuku neighbourhood, so I had little connection to Ikebukuro.

During a walk in the spring of 2013 I happened to take one particular picture that I really liked, and that somehow sparked my interest. I eventually spent more than a year on the prowl with my camera in the Ikebukuro neighbourhood.

Although Shinjuku and Ikebukuro are both major terminal stations, the air in the streets is different. The impression I'm getting from the people, their body temperature, or their constitution if you will, is just different. Lovable Ikebukuro, redoubtable Ikebukuro, is how I would describe the feelings I am harbouring these days.”