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May 09 2012 11 Comments

Japan’s saddest cowboy?

There are lots of tedious jobs in Tokyo. Perhaps none more so than the holding up of placards promoting the likes of pachinko or new properties. And for this fella, in contrast to his rather jaunty hat, the toad work, to paraphrase Philip Larkin, seems to be well and truly squatting on his life.

Japanese cowboy

Categorized: Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. winnie says

    5/9/2012 at 9:13 am

    Holding of Placard is quite tedious especially under a hot sun or in the cold. 🙁

    The poetry really seem to illustrate his situation .

    Reply
    • Lee says

      5/9/2012 at 4:13 pm

      Yeah, it’s hard to think of anything more tedious, isn’t it?

      It’s a poem I’ve been a big fan of for years, and as such it always springs to mind when I see people doing jobs like that. Or indeed the stressed and worn out salarymen that populate Tokyo.

      Reply
  2. Linette says

    5/9/2012 at 12:58 pm

    Awww. That’s one of the most depressing photos you have shown. More dogs dressed as humans please. (kidding)

    Reply
    • Lee says

      5/9/2012 at 4:19 pm

      Yeah, pretty grim, isn’t it? I really like it as an image, but at the same time it is horribly sad. I do hope he doesn’t have to do that everyday…

      Reply
  3. Hans ter Horst says

    5/9/2012 at 2:34 pm

    Love the detail of the white gloves; he’s really dressed up nicely compared to the old suits businessmen of his generation usually wear.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      5/9/2012 at 4:21 pm

      That’s what drew me to him. People holding up placards are nothing out of the ordinary. But doing doing so dressed like that is. He just seemed so unsuited to the job.

      Reply
  4. dochimichi1 says

    5/9/2012 at 11:14 pm

    I don’t think it’s a depressing photo at all! I find it quite comical. The wistful face expression, and that hat… The more I look at it, the more it makes me smile. Great photo ))

    Reply
    • Lee says

      5/10/2012 at 8:55 am

      Cheers! Interesting to hear a totally different take on the image. It always fascinates me how people see very different things in the same image.

      Reply
  5. JIM! says

    5/10/2012 at 8:30 am

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mui4CM2SKWM

    Reply
    • Lee says

      5/10/2012 at 8:56 am

      The perfect soundtrack!

      Reply
  6. Lawrence Burry says

    5/16/2012 at 11:30 am

    I really like the photo. The photographer captured an expression that brings different emotions to the viewer. Well done.

    Reply

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