Lee

With its famous car and consumer product industries, Japan is generally known for its large-scale manufacturing output. Away from the huge factories and mechanised plants, however, are numerous small businesses. Basic, often one-man operations tucked away down side streets or in the middle of suburbia — the owner’s home quite commonly doubling as a workshop.

Spaces where day after day, year after countless year, components and the like have been dutifully produced. A rarely mentioned legion of workers who presumably played a significant role in making Japan the country it is today. But, with age now catching up with many of them, their days of continued production are fast disappearing. A situation that some would argue is also not that dissimilar to the economy they once helped create.

Halloween is an increasingly popular event in Japan, and along with an ever-varying array of merchandise, parades and parties have also been added to the mix, with the latter two generally involving fancy dress of some form or other. But giving the parties in particular a uniquely Japanese twist, many of the outfits are related to the likes of animation and game characters. Or in this case, something with a distinctly aquatic feel. A decision that the mother seemed very happy with. The young lad somewhat less so.

Perched on the corner of a traditional, slightly ornate roof, it would be nice to think that this cat was sat practicing its gargoyle mimicry routine. Much more likely, however, is that it was merely the best spot to keep tabs on the furtively approaching, and far more gargoyle-like, foreigner.

We all like smiles. This fella even more than most. But at a time when he clearly needed one, there wasn’t a single one to be seen.