Tokyo has a wonderful knack of throwing up surprises. Head out, walk for a good while, and very likely you’ll see something unusual — sometimes even unpleasant. Plus now and again, a quite unwelcome combination of the two.
The scene below, however, was more inexplicable than surprising. A young man wearing a maid outfit playing the piano in a tiny immigration museum. Something, it’s probably fair to say, that one doesn’t see everyday.
JapanSnapping says
Did you let him know his tights were laddered?
Lee says
I felt I should have, but doing so seemed terribly ungentlemanly, so I just took a photo instead!
Tom says
So odd but it seems so totally normal!
Lee says
There was certainly an element of that, as to those there, the sudden presence of two foreigners somehow seemed a lot stranger than a fella in a maid outfit…
John says
Lunch break from a maid cafe? Worker shortage in Japan…
Lee says
Could well be. Maybe not even a worker shortage. Perhaps male maid cafes are now a thing…
Hans ter Horst says
You would think it is a promotional thing but it really doesn’t make much sense in an immigration museum, right? Or did the maids immigrate from Europe? 🙂
BTW, the last few days I’ve seen references to Japanese traps everywhere: First that video by SHISEIDO, then loads of manga (for example the Hourou Musuko manga, really recommended, BTW!) and now your photo. The guy isn’t pretty, but good on him. 🙂
Lee says
If had been a French maid immigration museum I suspect it would have been a lot busier!
All very coincidental eh? Cheers, wasn’t aware of that. Just had a quick look at it certainly sounds interesting.
Yeah, good on him indeed. No idea why he was wearing what he was, but he was very comfortable in it, which is all that really matters.
john says
maid in Japan…and the shoes don’t quite finish the look. Or maybe they do, but not in the right way.
Lee says
Considering the effort he went to with the rest of the outfit, the shoes do look bit out of place, don’t they? More, mystery…
An Ex Expat says
If there s a glass half full side to this…. its that whatever internal turmoil this individual has within, he’s at least chosen to express it passively.
Lee says
Definitely. He was very comfortable in his outfit. Certainly something that works for him.
d. minnis says
You see why I enjoy the comments so much…..the fact that you always answer back is also a big plus. I’ve also learned a new term, “laddered”
Lee says
I do, yes. I enjoy reading and replying to them too. Always good to hear other people’s thoughts and opinions.
And even better when new vocabulary is learned!
LAObserver says
Sorry for the foolish question, but what is an “immigration museum” ?
An Ex Expat says
In the context of Japan, that’s an oxymoron.
Lee says
The idea of an immigration museum here surprised me too.
The title is somewhat misleading to be honest, but I can understand why they went for it. Basically, it’s a room that details the life and experiences of a foreigner living in the area. Whether it changes regularly or was a one off I don’t know, but the day we were there the focus was on a man from India if my memory is correct.
cdilla says
On my trip through London today I took photos of a 10m diameter poppy flower and a life sized statue of Paddington Bear and thought them unusual.
But they are nought when compared to the acid trip vignettes you routinely happen across in Tokyo 🙂
That is an unusual looking music score. Looks like a mind map with links to short snatches of music.
And he has his phone positioned as if he is filming himself. (I’d check youtube, but with what search terms?)
That whole scene is definitely well down the rabbit hole.
On a purely compositional note, I like the way you have caught such a clear reflection of his face.
Lee says
Thanks. Obviously getting his face was quite important, so I was very pleased to have the reflection there. Very fortunate as that’s where the light was.
Yes, completely agree. And acid trip vignettes is the perfect description. I shall remember that one!
The bizarre music score is a wonderful little extra, isn’t it? Interesting thought on the phone too. I’d just assumed it was placed that way so as any notifications wouldn’t be distracting, but yes, he could well have been filming himself. The plot thickens!
d. minnis says
Those comments made me go back and look at things I missed the first, second and third times.
Lee says
Excellent. That more than proves your points about the comments too.