The Bookshelf - #1 Liam Wong TO:KY:OO
Liam Wong
TO:KY:OO
Thames and Hudson
Available on Amazon - £27.45 (30/03/2026)
Welcome to the first instalment of a series of entries into this blog where I talk about my favourite photo books. This isn’t focussed on a particular style of photography; it’s a selection of the books that I own that really enjoy looking at. These aren’t intended to be reviews, but if I have taken the time to write about it here, then you should assume that I think it’s really good!
These aren’t going to be long, detailed entries, but just enough to whet your appetite and maybe think about going and grabbing yourself a copy for your collection.
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Liam Wong’s TO:KY:OO is one of the most striking contemporary street photography books, capturing Tokyo’s neon-lit streets in a cinematic, cyberpunk style.
So, Liam Wong: TO:KY:OO. This might seem like an odd choice for some who does landscape photography in the Lake District. I think a bit part of my love for this book stems from my time spent shooting in London, as well as my desire to visit Tokyo in the future so that I can shoot some photos in this style - the locations in this book are incredible!
But who is Liam Wong? He was born in Edinburgh and studied Computer Art at University. He worked in the games industry for a time, with companies such as Ubisoft. During a trip to Japan with a Canon 5DMK2 he started making photos of the rain soaked Tokyo streets and the photographs he captured during that time formed the basis of what would become his breakthrough project, Tokyo Nights.
The images gained significant attention online for their distinctive look. Wong’s photographs often feature bold neon colours such as pink, purple, blue, and red, which contrast against the darker tones of the city at night. Rain-soaked pavements and reflective surfaces play an important role in the compositions, amplifying the glow of the surrounding lights and adding depth and atmosphere to each scene. Many of his images also include solitary figures walking through the frame, reinforcing a sense of quiet isolation within the busy urban environment.
It’s been said, since time immemorial that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but I mean, come on.. look at this thing at the top of the page. The colours, the composition, the reflections… You just know that this book is going to be IN-SANE.
Why This Book Stands Out
Other than the colour, the first thing that you notice is that this is a really well produced book, the cover feels great and the paper stock that has been chosen really shows every single image off at its absolute best. It’s a glossy paper stock, because matte just wouldn’t have worked for them. It does however work in the final section where we are shown some of the colour palettes and edits that went into making this book.
This was one of the first photo books that I bought, and I was at the front of the queue when the second one, After Dark, came out 3 or 4 years later, because I had enjoyed this one so much.
The book takes all around this incredible city at night, and has some real CyberPunk and Bladerunner vibes - Wong even says in the foreword that when he first visited and it rained, it was like being in the world created by Ridley Scott in Blade Runner.
This book tells the story of the place and some of the people that live in it, it is full of vibrance and contrast. The colours pop and the shadows create more mood than you could try and explain. There are photos showing entire streets, some that showcase the neon lights and there are some great detail shots and portraits in amongst it.
This book was a huge influence on my work when I lived in London, and if I do any street photography now I live in the Lake District, these are the kinds of colour I am looking for, though admittedly, they are fewer and farther between.
For such an impressive book, I feel like this is a real bargain of a book, and you can grab your copy on Amazon for less than £30. If you’re into cinematic street photography, neon colour, or simply want a book that looks incredible on your shelf, this is absolutely worth adding to your collection. You can check it out on Amazon below.
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