in Places & People

What Tokyo looked like in the 1980s Through these Spectacular Photos

11.1k Views 33 Comments

During the 1980s, Tokyo experienced an economic boom, as its unemployment rate was only 4.9%, compared to higher numbers in the succeeding decade. The city also experienced a massive increase in urban land prices. High-rises and skyscrapers were built in business districts; large department stores surrounded by public squares thrived near mid-range railway stations. Modern concrete buildings gradually replaced old wooden houses in residential areas. Despite tight controls by the public authorities, the modernization process resulted in an unruly collection of skyscrapers that overwhelmed the city’s streets and exacerbated parking problems. During this era, anime and manga flourished and the television industry. As a result, the Japanese entertainment industry was a significant force to be reckoned with in years to come.

The following decade would see Japan’s economic decline substantially, giving rise to the Lost Decade’s name. During the 1980s, the birth rate in Japan continued to drop significantly, dropping from about 14 to about ten births per thousand. In the late 1980s, the aging of the population was already evident in the aging labor force and the shortage of young workers, which could impact employment practices, wages, benefits, and the role of women in the workforce.

Below are stunning photos that will take you back to the 1980s in Tokyo.

#4 Shoe shining, Tokyo, 1982

Shoe shining, Tokyo, 1982

Source

4 Points
Upvote Downvote

#6 Tokyo monorail, 1983

Tokyo monorail, 1983

Source

4 Points
Upvote Downvote

#9 Tokyo avenue, 1981

Tokyo avenue, 1981

Source

4 Points
Upvote Downvote

#11 People walk the Spain zaka in Shibuya, Tokyo, 1984

People walk the Spain zaka in Shibuya, Tokyo, 1984

4 Points
Upvote Downvote

#12 People evacuate inundated area as Typhoon Judy hit, Tokyo, 1982

People evacuate inundated area as Typhoon Judy hit, Tokyo, 1982

4 Points
Upvote Downvote

#13 The strange building with the “8” in front is Capsule Hotel Eight, located near the big Ueno railroad station in Tokyo.

The strange building with the "8" in front is Capsule Hotel Eight, located near the big Ueno railroad station in Tokyo.

4 Points
Upvote Downvote

#14 A general view of the Nihon Gekijo, aka Nichigeki Theatre, is seen prior to its closure, Tokyo, 1981

A general view of the Nihon Gekijo, aka Nichigeki Theatre, is seen prior to its closure, Tokyo, 1981

4 Points
Upvote Downvote

#15 Portrait of a geisha (maiko), Tokyo, 1982

Portrait of a geisha (maiko), Tokyo, 1982

Source

3 Points
Upvote Downvote

#18 Fish at Ueno Market, Tokyo, 1983

Fish at Ueno Market, Tokyo, 1983

Source

3 Points
Upvote Downvote

#21 Japanese young women in kimono, Tokyo, 1983

Japanese young women in kimono, Tokyo, 1983

Source

3 Points
Upvote Downvote

#24 Tokyo Metro, 1983

Tokyo Metro, 1983

Source

3 Points
Upvote Downvote

#27 Yellow Umbrellas, Tokyo, 1983

Yellow Umbrellas, Tokyo, 1983

Source

3 Points
Upvote Downvote

#30 Ikebukuro area, 1981

Ikebukuro area, 1981

Source

3 Points
Upvote Downvote

#33 Tokyo street scenes, 1981

Tokyo street scenes, 1981

Source

3 Points
Upvote Downvote

#36 Kannon Temple, 1981

Kannon Temple, 1981

Source

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#39 Nakamise-Dori Ave., Asakusa, 1981

Nakamise-Dori Ave., Asakusa, 1981

Source

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#42 A general view on day fifteen of the Grand Sumo Autumn Tournament at Kuramae Kokugikan, Tokyo, 1984

A general view on day fifteen of the Grand Sumo Autumn Tournament at Kuramae Kokugikan, Tokyo, 1984

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#43 An Arakawa line tram approaches to Machiya Station, Tokyo, 1984

An Arakawa line tram approaches to Machiya Station, Tokyo, 1984

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#45 Shinkansen train at a station in Tokyo, 1984

Shinkansen train at a station in Tokyo, 1984

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#46 Endan (Metro) Ginza line train approaches to Shibuya Staiton, Tokyo, 1983

Endan (Metro) Ginza line train approaches to Shibuya Staiton, Tokyo, 1983

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#48 Woman Riding in Robot Driven Rickshaw, 1980s

Woman Riding in Robot Driven Rickshaw, 1980s

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#50 School children show off their calligraphies 1/5 in a New Year’s brush-writing contest attended by nearly 5,000 kindergarten tots to grown-up adults at Tokyo’s Budokan Hall.

School children show off their calligraphies 1/5 in a New Year's brush-writing contest attended by nearly 5,000 kindergarten tots to grown-up adults at Tokyo's Budokan Hall.

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#51 Rikishi presentation, Tokyo, 1983

Rikishi presentation, Tokyo, 1983

Source

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#54 Tsukiji market, 1981

Tsukiji market, 1981

Source

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#56 An Arakawa line tram approaches to Machiya Station, Tokyo, 1984

An Arakawa line tram approaches to Machiya Station, Tokyo, 1984

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#57 Travelers waiting for the train at Ueno station in Tokyo, 1984

Travelers waiting for the train at Ueno station in Tokyo, 1984

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#58 Street restaurants in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo, 1984

Street restaurants in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo, 1984

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#59 Advertising posters in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo, 1984

Advertising posters in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo, 1984

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#60 Traffic in Tokyo, 1984

Traffic in Tokyo, 1984

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#63 Haneda Airport To Mark 50th Anniversary, 1981

Haneda Airport To Mark 50th Anniversary, 1981

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#64 The Ferris Wheel of Yomiuri Land is seen, Tokyo, 1981

The Ferris Wheel of Yomiuri Land is seen, Tokyo, 1981

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#65 Runners start on day one of the 57th Hakone Ekiden, Tokyo, 1981

Runners start on day one of the 57th Hakone Ekiden, Tokyo, 1981

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#66 Competitors of Tokyo International Women’s Marathon, 1980s

Competitors of Tokyo International Women's Marathon, 1980s

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#67 Marunouchi Business District

Marunouchi Business District

A general view of the Marunouchi business district, Tokyo, 1980s

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#69 The train “Shinkansen”, Tokyo, 1980s

The train "Shinkansen", Tokyo, 1980s

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#70 People visit Shibamata Taishakuten temple, Tokyo, 1982

People visit Shibamata Taishakuten temple, Tokyo, 1982

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#72 Lunch at Tsukiji, Tokyo, 1980

Lunch at Tsukiji, Tokyo, 1980

Source

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#75 Asakusabashi, Tokyo, 1983

Asakusabashi, Tokyo, 1983

Source

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#78 Shinjuku Cinema, Tokyo, 1983

Shinjuku Cinema, Tokyo, 1983

Source

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#81 Women in a box, Tokyo, 1983

Women in a box, Tokyo, 1983

Source

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#84 A general view on day fifteen of the Grand Sumo Autumn Tournament at Kuramae Kokugikan, Tokyo, 1984

A general view on day fifteen of the Grand Sumo Autumn Tournament at Kuramae Kokugikan, Tokyo, 1984

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#86 The Hibiya Theater and Yuraku-za Theater are seen, Tokyo, 1984

The Hibiya Theater and Yuraku-za Theater are seen, Tokyo, 1984

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#87 Sensoji temple in Tokyo, 1984

Sensoji temple in Tokyo, 1984

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#89 Emperor And Empress Visit Hachijojima And Miyakejima Islands, 1982

Emperor And Empress Visit Hachijojima And Miyakejima Islands, 1982

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#90 Cars run at Shuto Expressway No.6 near Nihonbashi Kakigaracho area, Tokyo, 1983

Cars run at Shuto Expressway No.6 near Nihonbashi Kakigaracho area, Tokyo, 1983

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#91 A slope next to Ebisu Station falls as Typhoon Judy hit, Tokyo, 1982

A slope next to Ebisu Station falls as Typhoon Judy hit, Tokyo, 1982

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#92 People evacuate inundated area as Typhoon Judy hit, Tokyo, 1982

People evacuate inundated area as Typhoon Judy hit, Tokyo, 1982

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#93 People evacuate inundated area as Typhoon Judy hit, Tokyo, 1982

People evacuate inundated area as Typhoon Judy hit, Tokyo, 1982

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#96 Ginza on Broadway; The signs on Broadway near Bellview Avenue, 1981

Ginza on Broadway; The signs on Broadway near Bellview Avenue, 1981

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#98 View of a crossroads from the terrace of a restaurant in Tokyo, 1981.

View of a crossroads from the terrace of a restaurant in Tokyo, 1981.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#99 In the Imperial Reserve ‘Shinama’, the Spanish Kings Juan Carlos and Sofia and the Crown Princes Akihito and Michiko loose some pigeons, Tokyo, 1980.

In the Imperial Reserve 'Shinama', the Spanish Kings Juan Carlos and Sofia and the Crown Princes Akihito and Michiko loose some pigeons, Tokyo, 1980.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#101 Billboards and Pedestrians with Umbrellas on Tokyo Street, 1980s

Billboards and Pedestrians with Umbrellas on Tokyo Street, 1980s

0 Points
Upvote Downvote
Avatar of Aung Budhh

Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

33 Comments