No light at the end of the tunnel?
An unsettlingly lifeless Japanese girl in the park
Seeing people passed out on Tokyo’s streets isn’t that unusual, but for them to be female, is. A factor that made the scene below rather surprising — particularly so as it was in the middle of the day and devoid of any of the debris usually associated with heavy drinking.
Yet what made the sight really striking was that it initially looked like the young woman in question was being given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Something that arguably wouldn’t have been all that unexpected considering her clearly unconscious state.
But that wasn’t the case. Instead, her companion was intently picking at her skin, utterly oblivious to me and his surroundings. Behaviour that made the whole situation all the more odd and unsettling.
Traditional dancers at a traditional Japanese festival
Tokyo changes at a dizzying pace. Buildings frequently go up and down. Shops and businesses regularly swap hands. Plus fads come and go continuously. Festivals, on the other hand, fortunately don’t — proudly maintaining their traditions and strong community ties.
Events that have presumably altered very little over the years.
Something that can also be said about many of the participants. People who in one way or another have probably been involved since they were kids.
And with Japan’s legendary longevity, they’ll no doubt continue to be involved for many more years to come.
Godzilla terrorising suburban Tokyo
With Japan’s nuclear fears now very different from the 1950s when the first films were made, it seems unpleasantly apt that this Godzilla is intent on terrorising suburban areas, rather than Tokyo Bay and more central parts of the city.
A very Japanese spring
Very spring-like. Very colourful. And very Japanese.
