Photographs from a small group of islands
In modern, shrinking Japan, there isn’t exactly an abundance of babies, although it hasn’t quite got to the stage yet when noticing one is a novelty.
And yet as relatively small as their numbers are, they are still clearly fascinated by the kind of face that makes up even less of the population than they do.
Tokyo Gate Bridge opened on February 12 this year.
A feat of engineering that cost an estimated ¥113 billion.
It’s 2,618 metres long. Has a height of 87.8 metres. And, due to its design, has been nicknamed Dinosaur Bridge, as it is said to look like two prehistoric beasts facing each other.
But most importantly, it’s there. And can be walked across. So I did.
The only trouble is, after reaching the other end, the lift and path are currently blocked, so I ended up walking it one more time than I wanted to.
With their constantly staring eyes, Japanese scarecrows make for an unsettling sight; one that probably has a much bigger impact on people passing by, rather than any pests they are supposed to be protecting the crops from.
The truly unpleasant gaze of a student statue revealing what appears to be a life-like face, however, in many ways makes the likes of those above seem positively pleasant looking.
And yet it’s arguable that neither of them have anything on this: a Buddhist figure that is always watching — no matter which angle you warily try to look at it from.
Particularly in older Japanese properties, the proverb ‘walls have ears’ rings especially true, with not much more than a murmur from a neighbour, let alone music, often noticeable.
In some parts of Tokyo, however, they don’t just have ears, but also eyes.
A glance through a window into a world that is as unfamiliar to me, as it’s familiar to them — and each other.
