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Oct 30 2017 12 Comments

A Japanese woman passed out drunk in a dirty alleyway

When Friday night drinks run through to daylight on Saturday, it’s almost inevitable that things are going to get messy. And passing out drunk in a grubby little alleyway probably warrants a mention when it comes to messiness.

Japanese woman passed out drunk in a dirty Tokyo alleyway

Although as desperate as her situation clearly was, there was possibly some consolation in the knowledge that she wasn’t the only one.

Japanese woman passed out drunk in a dirty Tokyo alleyway

Categorized: Food and Drink, Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Coli says

    10/30/2017 at 10:01 am

    Wow! I’m never surprised by the pictures of drunk men passed out like this, but it always surprises me to see women like this even after 15 years here. Pictures like these just shows how safe it can be here in Japan. By the way what time of day was this? Do you usually go out on Saturday looking for these types?:)

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/30/2017 at 7:47 pm

      Yeah, likewise. Not common as such, and yet not that much of a rarity either. But yes, it really does. A couple of fellas came out of the tiny bar where the man is sleeping outside, and they looked at her and said, “Wow, she’s in a bad way, but at least she’ll be safe here.” And I’m very sure she was too.

      This was taken about 8:45-ish on a Saturday morning. First time I’ve ever been round there at that time — it’s usually early afternoon by the time I get there. It just happened that I was on my way somewhere else, so thought I’d pass by. I don’t actively look for these types, I just like the dodginess of the area and the people I see there. It just happens that some of them are sometimes passed out!

      Reply
  2. Denton says

    10/30/2017 at 4:22 pm

    Interesting shots but oh man that is sad……. 🙁

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/30/2017 at 7:48 pm

      Yes, it is. A very bad state to get in. Heaven knows what her hangover must have been like…

      Reply
  3. cdilla says

    10/30/2017 at 5:37 pm

    I love that graffiti piece. Whilst trying to reasearch it I see you appear to be the only person to have previously captured it…
    https://www.tokyotimes.org/colourful-urban-art-in-a-filthy-tokyo-alley/
    https://www.tokyotimes.org/japanese-urban-art-brightening-up-a-battered-old-tokyo-building/
    Your description in the first of those makes the sight of someone on the floor like that all the more impactfull.
    The interpretation of the graffiti by Hans is also interesting in the first post.
    As is often the case looking at your new posts on a morning, my hair has dried like a birds nest and my coffee is cold. Happy day 🙂

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/30/2017 at 7:53 pm

      Likewise. I’m a big fan of it. Very happy it has managed to survive for so long too. Long may that run of luck continue.

      I’ve actually took numerous pictures very near it, but only a few have included it. There’s another one here though: https://leechapman.photos/the-alleyways/p8xqb95gmnop5dixsfv0i29k8w7k7k

      Raggedy hair and cold coffee aside, I’m very happy to hear it!

      Reply
  4. john says

    11/1/2017 at 12:54 am

    I can’t help being reminded of an edgy (watch or handbag) glossy magazine advert. The hand placement, the co-ordinated clothes… the photography..
    OK ..very edgy.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      11/1/2017 at 8:39 am

      The shoes certainly caught my eye. Don’t know much about them, but they look expensive, and have the brand insignia prominently on display. Definitely a little edgy as shoe advertising goes.

      Reply
  5. scruffy says

    11/2/2017 at 3:41 am

    Wow, the memories. That might be the door to her stairway there and she just couldn’t make it one more step.

    Long, long ago I got sloppy drunk and made it all the way home but couldn’t get my key in the door so laid down in front of the door and passed out. My roommate was shocked to find me there when she left for work in the morning.

    Those shoes are most likely ruined. Her toes will be overjoyed to learn this.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      11/2/2017 at 5:14 pm

      Be nice to think it was, but she definitely had further to go home than that…

      That’s funny. I’m not surprised she was shocked. So near, and yet so far…

      Reply
  6. Squidpuppy says

    11/5/2017 at 2:01 am

    The second photo is amazing. I’m amazed by it – almost slack-jawed by how much I get out of it, see in it, am moved by it. Content, mood, composition, lighting – it reminds me of a minor art movement starting in the late 60’s and early 70’s of hyper-realistic surrealism – usually rife with themes, symbolism, and content that are incredibly rich and difficult to parse, but is viscerally impactful and haunting – profound Human / social commentary nearly impossible to nail down. Kudos.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      11/5/2017 at 1:44 pm

      Thank you very much. That’s absolutely fantastic to hear. When taking photos, it’s always nice to think other people might get something out of them, and reading thoughts and impressions like this is wonderful. Both encouraging and very rewarding.

      Reply

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