I’m drawn to the idea that multiple versions of a city exist, each particular to the person encountering it. What you see and what you don’t; what falls inside your remit and what doesn’t. We all walk through the same coordinates, but not the same place.

Greater Tokyo is home to roughly 37 million people. Each year, before domestic tourism is even counted, the city also receives on the order of 20–30 million international visitors. That amounts to roughly 60 million Tokyos in a single year—as if one were not expansive enough.

A lifetime might not be sufficient to walk all of Tokyo’s streets, particularly if you step into somebody else’s shoes occasionally. That perspective is something I’ve always wanted to bring to the newsletter: a curation of voices speaking on the city. This week, we’ve done it with three pieces from three creators, each inscribing a different legend on the map.

Though it wasn’t briefed that way, all three pieces naturally coalesced around firsts in the city: a first neighbourhood visit, a first excursion, and a first small-scale business. In contrast, the places they lead us run pre-modern, pre-war, and even pre-Tokyo. The alignment feels fitting. We’re old souls around here, but always open to new encounters.

With that, settle into your weekend read, and our inaugural Tokyo curation.

AJ