Photographs from a small group of islands
At the height of his alcohol-fuelled feelings of complete and utter invincibility, this fella’s last can — a cheap and cheerful chu-hi — must have seemed like an absolutely fantastic idea. But, due to either a very early start, or an impressively late finish, its only effect seems to have been to quickly summon an embarrassingly public, mid-afternoon slumber.
Should you wish to see more photos of similarly inebriated Japanese drinkers, an ever-growing set of them can be seen here.
Japan has more than its fair share of stunning scenery, but personally, it’s the less conventionally striking sights that appeal the most. Tokyo’s faded and crumbling urban structures for example, or the countryside’s many abandoned homes and buildings.
With this in mind then, the nation’s northernmost coastline between Wakkanai and Cape Soya made for a wonderful half day of photography and exploration. Scenes that most definitely won’t make the guidebooks, but for me at least they possess a sort of forlorn beauty all of their own.
Or if not quite kaleidoscopic, then it’s certainly very colourful. An underpass that contains some similarly colourful looks too.
Bars, of course, are almost always pleasant places to be, but Japan’s standing bars in particular are more than a little special. Mostly used as pitstops for a very quick bit of food and booze, the resultant flow of customers makes them absolutely perfect for people watching. Then add to that their rough and ready nature, and it’s a match made in a very hazy heaven.
For more photos of Japanese drinkers, there’s a full set of them on my portfolio site, here.
Rhinoceros and stag beetles are fairly common pets for youngsters in Japan, with the fully formed insects readily available at all manner of different outlets. For the more determined owner, however, it’s possible to go the whole hog and lovingly nurture them from larvae. And this little lad, in the narrow alleyway outside his house, was happily doing just that.
