Shibuya Crossing
Papers – Fabriano, Optix, cartridge
Framed size 508 x 406
 
 
What is it?
 
It is one of the world’s busiest pedestrian crossings situated outside Shibuya train station in Tokyo. 10 lanes of traffic and five major pedestrian crossings meet and see sometimes over 3000 people crossing every two minutes.
 
The crossing gave rise to the term “scramble” since pedestrians cross from all directions.
Once the trains stop at night-time, the crossing becomes strangely quiet. The crossing took its modern-day form in 1932. The buildings surrounding the crossing are covered in neon and electronic billboards, adding to the chaotic atmosphere.
 
 
A touching tale
 
Exit 8 of Shibuya Station is known as the Hachikō Exit, so-called because of the bronze statue of the famous dog in the plaza outside.
Hachikō was a dog who lived during the 1920s, and every day the dog would return to Shibuya Station to wait for his owner to come home from work. One day the professor did not return, he’d suffered a brain haemorrhage at work and passed away suddenly without saying goodbye.
Remarkably, for the next nine years, Hachikō could be found waiting for his owner in the same spot, at the same time each day. When his story was reported by one of the professor’s former students, Hachikō went down in history. The statue was erected in 1934, but Hachikō died from cancer one year later, at the age of 11.
 
Fun Facts
 

• A total of 2.4 million passengers travel through Shibuya station each day.

 

• Hachiko’s statue is a famous meeting point for friends.