27th Sep 2020: Istanbul Turkey
During the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Japanese government eased its ban on overseas travel on the condition of mandatory quarantine upon return. Taking advantage of this, I made a short business trip to the United Kingdom and Turkey. I didn’t have much opportunity to take photos in the UK, but I managed to capture a few in Istanbul, Turkey. It was my first time visiting the city. Until then, my only impression of Istanbul came from the old hit song by Mayumi Shōno, ‘Tonde Istanbul.’ Because the lyrics mention deserts and mirages, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9gPz6FXwaU I had imagined a dry, Egypt-like landscape—but the reality was completely different. Istanbul is Turkey’s largest city and one of the most unique in the world, as it spans two continents—Europe and Asia—divided by the Bosphorus Strait. For centuries, it has thrived as a crossroads of civilizations, blending diverse histories, cultures, and religions. Founded as Byzantium in the 7th century BC, it became...