Tokyo’s festivals are a photographer’s dream, and the Sanja Matsuri at Senso-ji Temple is one of the most vibrant. A while back, I shared some of my favorite photos of people in traditional kimonos from the 2022 event. But the truth is, the planned shots are only half the story.
The real magic happens in the moments you don’t see coming. I have a few more pictures—and stories—from that day that I just have to share.
You might remember a photo of a particularly charming chihuahua from my first post. In a stroke of amazing luck, the owner saw a picture I posted on Instagram and reached out! It turns out the dog is named Montjiro, and he’s a bona fide star on the platform with a massive following. It was a classic “only in Tokyo” moment where you stumble upon a local celebrity right in the middle of a crowd.
Later that day, I came across another group of festival-ready pets. It was a few pugs accompanied by a very confident-looking cat, all dressed in their festival best. They were drawing quite a crowd, and everyone was getting along.
Until they weren’t.
In a flash, the cat took a sudden, powerful swipe at one of the pugs. It was all claw and attitude. Thankfully, the pug was completely unfazed and simply turned away as if nothing had happened. That made the crowd laugh harder. It was a perfect, spontaneous story told in a single moment, but I had no idea what prompted the attack or why the pug’s reaction was so funny to everyone.
It’s moments like that—fast, funny, and over in a flash—that make me rethink my gear. For most of these shots, I was using my Fujifilm 16-55mm and 55-200mm lenses. They are fantastic, versatile pieces of glass, but in the tight, shifting crowds of a festival, they can feel heavy and slow to react.
I found myself thinking about a prime lens, like the 23mm f/2. It’s small, light, and known for its lightning-fast autofocus—exactly what you need to capture a cat socking a dog without missing the shot.
This line of thinking also led me down another path. I truly enjoy this style of candid, street photography—capturing people as they are, living their lives. But as I watched the festival-goers, I wondered what it would be like to change my approach. To ask someone to step aside, pose against a textured wall, and collaborate on a portrait. It’s a different skill set entirely, but one I’m curious to explore.
What about you? As a viewer or a photographer, do you prefer candid, in-the-moment shots or beautifully composed portraits? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
P.S. For those wondering, I did eventually get a new prime lens! I opted for the Fujifilm XF 35mm f2, and you can see how it performed during the 2022 Tori-no-Ichi festival in Shinjuku. It was a purchase I didn’t regret.
Rohan has photographed Tokyo since 2011. He shoots it with his Canon EOS R5. The project will take more than one lifetime to complete.
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