
Japanese (want to) haves and have-nots?

Photographs from a small group of islands

Big nights out are a daily option in Tokyo. As are benders of truly epic proportions. The only problem, however, is that there’s almost always a price to pay, and sometimes a hefty one.

It may well have been early Saturday afternoon rather than Sunday morning, but when it’s still hot and the week’s work is finally done, why not squeeze into a tiny old bar and down a few?

Confrontation isn’t a common Japanese trait, and considering the population of Tokyo and its seemingly incessant crowds, that’s almost certainly a good thing. But that’s not to say it’s a city of peace and zen-like harmony, because it’s not — not by any stretch of the imagination. Anger and frustration often simmer gently just below the surface, and now and again — despite the acute embarrassment of some — they quite understandably boil over.

Whether made at home or bought in one of countless shops all over the country, the humble bento — or lunch box — is arguably just as much a part of Japanese culture as sushi and sake. A meal regularly enjoyed by tens of millions of locals everyday, along with even the odd alien or two.
