rudy van os behind the wall

Tokyo’s rail network is not just a means of getting from A to B; it’s the very heart and soul of the city. With more than 40 million people taking the train each day, it’s little wonder that during periods of extreme weather or when even a single line suffers a breakdown, thousands of people’s lives are immediately affected. If we imagine Tokyo as a living, breathing organism, then its rail network undoubtedly represents the complex system of veins and arteries funneling pure human energy throughout its entire being, without which it simply could not survive.

In this series of photos simply titled Densha to Eki (lit. trains and stations), Dutch photographer, cameraman and editor Rudy van Os expertly captures the very essence of daily life in Tokyo. From sleepy students and lonely businessman to loving parents and beautiful assassins, Rudy’s photographs are a perfect slice of Tokyo life on the go.

▼ A parting.rudy van os untitles

▼ The lucky few sit.

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▼ “Assassin”. A pretty young woman with a concentrated stare slips on her gloves.

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▼Masks and mail

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▼ The wait.

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▼Against the flow.

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▼ Styles and smiles.

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▼Young and old underground.

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▼”Legs”

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▼ Love and concern.

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▼ “Up and Down”

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▼”Trance”

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▼”The Switch”

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▼ Reading time.

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▼So many different walks of life in one place.

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▼ “Nike”

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▼ “N Shoes”

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▼ “Lingerie”rudy van os lingere

▼ “Safe”

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▼ “Hey!”

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▼”Left Step”rudy van os left step

▼ “Forever Walking”
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▼ “Killing Time”
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▼”Fiction and Reality”

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▼ Deep in thought

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And this wouldn’t be Tokyo without thousands of commuters falling victim to Mr. Sandman every day.

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rudy van os sleeping with crutches

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Of course, without the efforts of the hard-working station staff, Tokyo as we know it simply would not exist. We have to admire their dedication.

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Until the next time…

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You can find more of Rudy van Os’s incredible work via his Google+ account or dedicated Facebook page, Tokyo Shots.

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All photos by Rudy van Os