Despite its gradual, post-bubble decline, Japan is still an affluent country. To suggest otherwise would be absurd. But at the same time, an increasing number of Japanese can only dream of being financially stable, let alone comfortable. The myth of everyone being middle-class has been well and truly debunked, and not just jobs for life, but full-time jobs in general are slowly becoming a thing of the past. Those in so-called irregular jobs now make up almost half the nation’s workforce, and the insecurity, lower pay and lack of benefits synonymous with such positions mean millions of people are simply surviving. A good amount just barely, and way too many not even that. But while visibly growing in numbers, those who have fallen through the ever-widening gaps in the safety net somehow still remain mostly invisible.
It’s perhaps worth mentioning that the decision to take this photo was a difficult one — as was the decision to use it. The man’s plight is undoubtedly bad enough without having a camera pointed at him, and I’m well aware that my highlighting of such suffering doesn’t alleviate it at all, or make his situation easier in any way whatsoever. And yet there again, is the cold indifference (at best) shown by the government and so many of those passing by any better? Maybe. Maybe not. I honestly don’t know.
AF says
I guess that Japan suffering looks a bit like western countries with this emerging situation.
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Some people say that the “proletariat” is becoming more like “precariat” where workers feel economically deprived when they remember times that they could afford a house, a family, a car, etc… while the unstable configuration of the world crushes life styles.
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Poverty and Precarious Work
https://workingclassstudies.wordpress.com/2016/09/04/poverty-and-precarious-work/
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Indeed, Japan is also going through a rise on crime rates of elderly offenders:
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Late in Life: Japan’s Elderly Behind Bars
http://apjjf.org/2016/19/Murphy.html
Lee says
Thanks a lot for the links. Interesting reads.
Yes, just like in the west, the gulf between rich and poor in Japan is getting increasingly wider. Increasingly more visible too.
I’ve read and heard a lot about Japan’s elderly parents financially supporting their considerably less well-off adult/middle-aged children, especially so in regards the grandkids schooling, and the huge costs that can entail. A generation that lived through the boom times and made a point of saving. But once they and their money have gone, things will presumably begin to bite for a whole group of other people too…
AF says
You are welcome Lee,
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Yes and I agree with what you said. In an article I found summarized and organized the type of Prime Ministers that Japan had. It was like this:
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WW2 to 1955 – A Diplomat (during US occupation)
1956 to 1993 – Ex-Bureaucrats and regional Leaders
1994 to Nowadays – Children and Grandchildren of famous politicians
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They said that the new generation was strongly influenced by hierarchy and did not have the same business vision as the senior veteran from 20th century. Meaning that politicians were like a mirror of their society.
Lee says
Yes, nepotism rules Japanese politics. Arguably the world’s greatest old boys club.
While they continue to flourish, however, due to their family wealth and positions of power, their counterparts in the real world increasingly find life much harder. Or at least a growing number of them do. But with no real political opposition to speak of, the system as it is looks set to continue for a long time to come…
Denton says
Interesting picture, but wow, that’s sad. 🙁
IMHO I think it’s okay. Sure it’s sad, but I think you are making a good enough point.
Lee says
Thanks. Good to hear. I certainly hope that’s the case.
Someone mentioned on Twitter that poor mental health care could be the even bigger issue here, which is a very good point. With that in mind, it makes me question my decision even more. And yet once again, is simply ignoring the problem really any better…?
Mih says
Thanks as always for bringing out the murky interior underneath the gloss. Been following your work for years and I have a question – do you always take permission from your subjects before photographing them? Sometimes you do take pictures of passed out people, or people going about their busy lives and I understand it’s not possible in such situtations. But in others such as these they’re directly looking at the camera. I’m curious under what circumstances is permission required and when it’s not. Hope you shed some light on this.
Lee says
You are very welcome. Good to hear you are keen to see what’s below the surface.
To be honest it’s very rare I ask for permission. Generally the only times I do are when it’d be near impossible to get the shot without it — whether that be for logistical reasons for want of a better word, or where not doing so would cause issues or potential conflict. Upsetting people is something I really don’t want to do, but at the same time, I also don’t want a posed photo. An image of somebody putting forward a look of how they want to be seen, is far less interesting (to me at least) than an image of how they actually are. Or at the very least an image of how they can be. And an unguarded look at the camera I feel often achieves that.
As for the rights and wrongs of this approach, it’s mostly subjective. Legally, so long as the image isn’t for commercial use, I’m of the firm belief that permission is not required. Something that has been backed up by the photos I sell for editorial purposes. But the moral rights of such an approach are far less black and white. Street photography wouldn’t exist if permission were always required. At the same time, however, a good number of people feel it’s out of order and a huge invasion of privacy. Views that I’ve heard first hand here and on social media. And they have a very good point. I can’t deny that. I also can’t deny that candid photographs of people absolutely fascinate me. It all depends where you draw the line I suppose. I have my own, and I try to stick to it, although photos like the one above make me question where that line actually is. Or at the very least how fixed it is.
Does that make any sense? Hope it’s not too rambling, but it really is difficult sometimes to give a simple answer.
Mih says
Makes sense, but I reckon there is no definite answer to this. Your response is appreciated.
I want to take candid shots without coming across as creepy, but there is no unversal boundary for creep. I assume there’s a cultural dimension which influences the subject’s notion of privacy. From my limited travel experience, I see that In some countries it’s perfectly fine to take such shots, whereas others would raise objections or stare daggers at you.
Lee says
You are welcome.
Yeah, it’s not easy. Both to decide when and who it’s acceptable to photograph. And yes, some places are easier than others, although here, different people react very differently. Same everywhere really I suppose.
Sophie says
Hi Lee,
Yes this photo is interesting in what it shows about the socio-economic situation, and also in the discussion it leads to in terms of boundaries.
This person certainly knew you were taking the photograph. I’m wondering if you talked with him before or afterwards, or if you just took the photo.
I guess I would have been interested in knowing more about his circumstances, in explaining why I was taking the picture… but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have taken the photo because I’m not good at (comfortable with) taking pictures of people!
You on the other hand are very gifted and can convey a lot through them, so keep up the nice work.
Lee says
Thank you very much, Sophie. Very nice of you to say so. Makes me feel better about such shots too.
Often I’ll share a quick word, greeting or just a smile with people after I’ve taken their photo. It’s amazing how the latter in particular can diffuse a potentially awkward situation. I’ve long since lost count of the number of times I’ve gotten a dirty look when I pressed the shutter, but shared a big smile with immediately after. But this fella was different. His gaze never changed before, during or after the moment captured. And worrying whether I’d done the right thing or not taking the photo, I didn’t push my luck and try and talk to him. With hindsight I probably should have done, but it didn’t seem right at the time.
Nathaniel Greene says
do you ever talk to the people your photographing or do they ever ask you why? Feel sorry for this guy, hope his fortunes improve someday.
Lee says
Likewise. Impossible to even imagine how tough his days must be. And they are only going to get worse with winter just round the corner…
I often share a brief greeting or more often than not a smile with those I photograph. Plus now and again a conversation. Had some nice chats over the years. And yes, they do sometimes ask why I took their photo. Unfortunately it’s always a tricky one to answer as it’s not always something I can express in English, let alone in Japanese. It’s very often just something about them I find interesting, or how they appear in the context of their surroundings. So very often I’ll try and steer the conversation away to more comfortable ground such as the weather, the local area etc. Makes life much easier!
Janice says
Thanks for showing this. We need to know about these things. In addition to enjoying your photos, I’ve learned so much from you about the culture and situations in Japan.
Thank you.
Lee says
You are welcome. It’s really nice to hear you get so much from my photos. Reading that is genuinely encouraging. So thank you!
Andrew says
I like that the ‘take your rubbish home’ sign is in the photo. If I remember correctly you have posted a photo with those eyes in before too, is that right?
I think it’s OK to take photos like you do without permission as they bring a great deal of awareness about issues like these and in other cases showing some of the little joys in life. If the person in the photo gets upset maybe consider deleting the photo or at the very least not publish it. And it’s always easier to apologize after than ask permission before.
Lee says
I have, yes. The extra pair of eyes I like as they add something a bit extra to the photo.
Thanks, that’s good to hear. And that’s very true. Once permission has been asked the moment has invariably gone. Or at least a non-posed, natural one. Plus like you say, the resultant photo doesn’t have to be used.
cdilla says
Your commentary and the title alone justify the taking of the image. I imagine at the scene many people avert their eyes through embarrassment or active disinterest and such a photograph gives them, and we remote viewers, time to look closely and really see.
His appearance blends him into the grim colours of the background, almost as if in a year or two he won’t be visible at all.
The comments here have make interesting and informative reading. You, your camera and your website educate and, on other entries, entertain us. Thank you.
Lee says
Thank you very much for the kind words and encouragement. It’s genuinely good to hear such support. Images like this are tough (both to take and to know what to do with), and the last thing I want to be doing is somehow exploiting this man’s predicament. Knowing it’s not seen that way is a huge relief.
That’s so true about the colours, although to be honest, even when I took the photo he seemed pretty much invisible. Or if not invisible, then at the very least, willfully unseen…
YTSL says
The thing that really stands out for me about the photo is its main subject’s lack of shoes. I hope that he’ll be able to come by a pair soon, especially as the days are turning colder and colder.
And I totally agree that the gulf between the (really) rich and (really) poor is wider these days than it appeared to just a few decades, even years, ago; with the middle-class not being all that big a group, and its members tending to feel like they’re lower on the socio-economic ladder than their predecessors.
Lee says
I know. Even on the day I took the photo, it wasn’t exactly bare foot weather. Considerably colder now, and even set to snow tomorrow. Although even with shoes, his life is going to get a lot tougher over the coming months. Simply doesn’t bear thinking about…
Branden says
For those interested in helping the homeless in Japan, I cannot recommend enough the good work of my friends at Second Harvest. https://www.2hj.org/