There are an estimated 20,000 coin-operated laundries across Japan, a number that has doubled in the last two decades. In addition to the usual services, they provide speciality machines for cleaning sports shoes, pillows and heavy blankets. For Philip Fong they are a novelty not found in his hometown of Hong Kong. The photographer is drawn to Tokyo’s 24-hour laundromats, located in unassuming residential areas. Fong says: ‘I do really like the atmosphere of those shops in the quiet night, with warm, colour-toned washing machines’