The noticeable contrast between an old man’s honest, caught off-guard expression, and the false, posed political portraits of those behind him. Differences in looks that quite possibly also mirror their respective lives.
Photographs from a small group of islands
The noticeable contrast between an old man’s honest, caught off-guard expression, and the false, posed political portraits of those behind him. Differences in looks that quite possibly also mirror their respective lives.
cdilla says
So much detail. So much draws my eye. The man’s clean – infact new looking – clothes. The precise way the poster is placed, aligned and stuck up with cute little circular stickers. The picture in the laundry – what is that!? It looks like an orange hoody clad cartoon figure sat on a glass of guinness using a phone. The overall clean decrepitude of the scene – the concrete and appliances are certainly old but there are no dirt accumulations in the cracks or angles. And lastly, the little yellow sign with the eyes at the top. They look like the eyes you see on Buddhist stupas. Is it one of those address plates or something else.
Lee says
There’s a lot of stuff that doesn’t quite add up, isn’t there? Or at there very least isn’t quite what you’d initially think.
Haven’t a clue what the picture is I’m afraid. I basically walked past and took the picture. That was it. So your guess is as good as mine. But the yellow sticker with the eyes is something that’s practically everywhere in Tokyo these days. There’s an explanation of it here: http://goo.gl/kPumXe
Al says
Another angry stare! 😉
Lee says
Yes. Another one. But we did share a smile and a nod immediately after. Honest!
Marc Tobolski says
Oh man…the last trip to Japan had two coin laundry adventures! First, in Nagoya, we were sitting outside similar to the gentleman above when a drunk across the street spotted us and was trying to figure us out. He proceeded to have a conversation with his friend who was passed out in the doorway across the way. Then he pissed in the road. The second event was in Tokyo when a younger guy came in, took off all his clothes and proceeded to wash his clothes and himself in the sink. And folks wonder why I drink when I do my laundry in Japan!
Lee says
Blimey! Clearly coin laundries are places I need to hang out in! The fella stripping off especially is a great story. I can only imagine how surprised you were.
There’s a coin laundry near a mate’s place that has a couple of showers, but clearly they are an unnecessary waste of money if there’s a sink!
cdilla says
Lol, the second encounter reminded me of this classic 80’s jeans advert https://youtu.be/HwwsrutfAuo.
Lee says
Yes, me too. That was clearly the romanticised version. What Marc saw is the reality!
Boa Campbell says
Hello!! Amazing photos and articles!! Thank you for sharing your photo stories around Japan! MayI ask where I can find this coin laundry please? Thank you so much!