Photographs from a small group of islands
Due to the city’s size, and the sheer number of tracks that cross it, Tokyo’s trains carry all walks of life — from the regular salaryman, to the odd Hollywood pirate. And yet that said, this was definitely the first time I’ve ever seen someone who popped out dressed as Pikachu.
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.
Numerous shops in Tokyo sell Mrs. Santa outfits. Cheeky little numbers that, if the images on the boxes are anything to go by, would add substantially more sauce to Christmas than merely some brandy.
But, like many things in life, the reality can be very different. So different, in fact, that it’s hard to imagine any amount of festive goodwill being enough to forgive this fella.
Merry Christmas!
Stood by the side of the road, with her arm raised in the standard, I’m-crossing-so-please-be-careful gesture, this statue of an elementary school student is presumably just a reminder to motorists. But, with her sad eyes and damaged features, she acts as a deterrent in more ways than one.
A face that no doubt haunts the dreams of countless generations of children, not to mention parents and people who take her picture.
A pirate he may be, but in Tokyo, Captain Jack Sparrow has to cobble together his pieces of eight just like all the other commuters, and travel to work by train.
