Tokyo Times

Photographs from a small group of islands

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Japanese workers working #12

How much money Tokyo’s relatively numerous roadside manga sellers make is debatable to say the least, but it certainly can’t be a lot.

However, that said, insubstantial salary aside, it’s a livelihood that at least allows for a lot of reading on the job, along with a massive amount of material to boot.

Japanese manga seller

Plus, as smoking becomes ever more marginalised, there’s no trouble at all when it comes to taking tobacco-based treats, with possibly the only frustration apart from financial being the odd funny looking foreigner faffing about taking photos.

Japanese manga seller

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Horrific Japanese haircuts?

Prospective customers of this particular barber may well believe that as the proprietor now clearly manages without mannequins to hone new hairstyles on, they can be confident of a considerably accomplished cut.

Japanese barber mannequin

However, on the other hand, those after one of the fella’s famed flat tops,

Japanese barber mannequin

may well get a bit more than they bargained for.

Japanese barber mannequin

And then some.

Japanese hairdresser mannequin

Categorized: Odd

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Bargain hunting blues?

For a fair few it would seem, far and away the most frustrating features of shopping with a partner are faffing about trying to find them, and finding something to do until they’ve finally finished.

For others, however, any frustrations often have a habit of only coming to the fore once they have actually found their favoured one.

Japanese couple shopping

Especially when it turns out that both may well have bagged more than they bargained for.

Japanese couple shopping

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Tranquil time out #46

Dotted liberally all over the land, Jizo are arguably the most discernible of Japanese deities. And, at the same time, have maybe the most miserable of meanings:

Traditionally, he is seen as the guardian of children, particularly children who died before their parents. Jizō statues are sometimes accompanied by a little pile of stones and pebbles, put there by people in the hope that it would shorten the time children have to suffer in the underworld. The statues can sometimes be seen wearing tiny children’s clothing or bibs, or with toys, put there by grieving parents to help their lost ones and hoping that Jizō would specially protect them. Sometimes the offerings are put there by parents to thank Jizō for saving their children from a serious illness.

However, as well as being sorrowful,

Japanese Jizo

they can be strangely soothing.

Japanese Jizo

Somehow.