Tokyo Times

Photographs from a small group of islands

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Looking in and out of a filthy Tokyo restaurant window

When it comes to cheap and cheerful Japanese eateries, there often seems to be a weird correlation between the amount of filth and the quality of the food. An anomaly that goes against conventional wisdom and dictates that the dirtier the place is, the more delicious the grub will be.

So on outside appearances at least, the fare in this place should be of a fairly high standard. But even if it’s not, there’s still the consolation of the fella doing the cooking looking like a thoroughly decent sort.

dirty Tokyo restaurant

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Genuine Japanese smiles

Free they may well be, not to mention beneficial, but in Tokyo at least, smiles are very much a novelty rather than the norm. Of course in bars it’s a different story as there is booze involved, but day to day life is sadly really rather bereft of them.

Now why this should be I don’t know, but what it does do is make those that are seen all the more special. Particularly so when they are big, wonderfully genuine ones that even masks can’t disguise.

Japanese smiles

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The intensity of a Shinto priest

This young Shinto priest has appeared on Tokyo Times once before, and the photograph can be seen here.

Due to the intensity of his stare, however, it was impossible to resist going through the process again, with the resultant image replicating pretty much the exact same expression and an identical pose. The only real difference being a slightly incongruous looking plaster.

Japanese shinto priest