Whether it be the old and new, rich and poor, or even foreign and non-foreign, Tokyo is a vast city of contrasts. Striking differences that are everywhere. Even in tiny local bars, where the mild demeanour of one patron, can seem hugely dissimilar to the possibly very murky past of another.
Martin says
I think you’re fortunate some people don’t get upset when you photograph them.
Matt Talbot says
Yes, especially the ones who can only count up to nine and a half.
Lee says
Yes, that’s very true.
To be honest people do get upset sometimes, but when it comes to the like of people with dubious counting ability, I’m always very careful. No point being silly.
Jeffrey says
Yes. Lee would know for sure, but that makes him something of a crime culture artifact as I understand that digit foreshortening is no longer used to “atone” for a fuck-up.
Lee says
Sadly don’t know the story. He didn’t say a word to anyone, so never got a chance to find out any info. Maybe if I go back, and he’s there again, I may get an opportunity to dig a little deeper.
Vegard NerdyExplorer says
The missing finger could be a Yakuza who had it cut off. I’ve read that if they do a mistake. They cut of a finger.
Hans ter Horst says
Great shot, excellent characters! It’s not often I see yakuza in Tokyo.
My wife lived in Ishinomaki (Miyagiken) for a while and we visited it half a year before the tsunami hit and that town was full of yakuza, being a fishing port and the drugs and all. I wouldn’t want to have photographed those guys on the sly; although my experience in those case is to talk to them and ask them for a photo and, frankly, I would expect many to comply.
Lee says
Cheers! Yes, it was an interesting evening.
Seen plenty in Kabukicho, and also Yasukuni on certain days. But not fella’s I’d want to ask for a photograph. Away from the city, however, I agree with you. I dare say they’d be happy to chat a little too. One way or another they’d definitely be interesting fellas to talk to.