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Oct 12 2012 10 Comments

Tokyo stares

Apart from in bars, smiles aren’t an especially common sight in Tokyo. In fact, receiving a big smile is an equally big event. One that can make a mundane day rather memorable.

Stares, on the other hand, are more frequent. Both the furtive, and the far more flagrant variety.

But that said, it’s still a little unusual to see a three-way stare of sorts. Although while the salary man may well be staring at the other man for doing likewise to the lady, who or what she is staring at is unknown.

Japanese staring

Categorized: Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. winnie says

    10/12/2012 at 3:31 pm

    The lady is staring fiercely! Is she angry with somone nearby or beside her?
    But this shot is incredible interesting!
    I was amused by the two guy expression!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/12/2012 at 7:18 pm

      I have no idea. I was so intent on getting the photo that I failed to notice what she was staring at!

      Reply
  2. Hans ter Horst says

    10/12/2012 at 3:41 pm

    Nice triangle! You are right about the smiles and I think it has got worse over the last 10 years or so. All those expressionless faces are sometimes scary. My Japanese wife calls it “botox” faces 🙂

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/12/2012 at 7:20 pm

      Cheers!

      It’s certainly not getting better. Have no idea why though. There are far worse places to live…

      Botox faces is a great way of putting it!

      Reply
  3. A Former Expat says

    10/12/2012 at 5:41 pm

    Did she stare back?

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/12/2012 at 7:21 pm

      Nah. Just after I took the photo the lights changed and everyone crossed the road. And that was that…

      Reply
  4. Sonicchi says

    10/12/2012 at 10:39 pm

    Interesting shoot here. It is indeed a rare sight to see smiles in Japan

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/13/2012 at 9:30 am

      It is. In fact the only time I’ve seen people smile a lot was after the big earthquake and the fears about Fukushima. The ‘we are all in this together’ mind set seemed to bring people together, and when I was out and about people smiled and said hello. Sadly it didn’t last long.

      Reply
  5. lorraine says

    10/20/2012 at 5:47 pm

    i bet she sees the guy looking at her from the corner of her eye. i always do. you can feel when people stare at you.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/21/2012 at 12:00 pm

      Yeah. Don’t know why, but it’s strange how you can ‘sense’ someone staring.

      Reply

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