Photographs from a small group of islands
With fashion and particularly appearance being very important in Japan, it’s perhaps not surprising that the nation’s scarecrows are similarly style conscious. So, for 2011, there are some new characters as well as clothes.
Along with a fresh coiffure.
And even a little coyness.
But, for those that crave continuity, there’s still the unequivocal evil of one of last year’s creations.
Admittedly the selection may not be quite the same as a supermarket, but the freshness is far superior. And if it was possible to transfer even a fraction of the serenity of this west Tokyo ‘store’ to its more modern counterparts, then shopping would almost be pleasant.
In a small temple, in a quiet part of Tokyo, this old lady definitely wasn’t lost, but she may well have been looking for someone who was.
The much photographed and staple of the foreign media, Shibuya Crossing, is a seething mass of fashionably attired humanity. A place where the rush and push and the land leaves little time for culture, let alone contemplation.
But this lady at least offered a bit of tradition, and perhaps even more importantly, some poise.
When it’s hard to deal with the incessant summer heat, sometimes it’s best just to settle down with a good book.
Or better still, a best friend.
