In general, Japanese people like to keep their distance from one another. They are shy. I'm one of them so I know. I've always wondered how they would behave if I turned a camera on them without their permission but with them knowing what was going on. So I put the general workforce to the test, shooting with a flash on purpose so they'd know that I was shooting them. I was especially interested in how the blue-collar folk responded. Their working style is so serious and robotic, it seems they almost don’t have any cardiac output. This is so Japanese. Anyway, let’s see my photos...
The guy up there, I took about seven photos of him but he behaved as if he knew nothing about it. He didn’t make eye contact with me or say anything to me. It seems like he couldn’t understand how to respond.
He took a displeased stance when I pointed the camera at him, but he turned his face sideways without glaring at me.
He scooted his body over to the side, looking uncomfortable. To tell the truth, I don't think he thought I was trying to get him in the frame--I think he thought I was shooting whatever that is behind him. That means that if I point the camera at Japanese people, they are too shy to even think to themselves that they might be the subject of the picture.
“I don't care if someone takes my photo with a flash. I will ignore it, but I will indicate a wish of not wanting to be photographed by turning my face sideways."
“I have so little to stand guard against I'm going to pretend I don't notice the flash by looking at the sky."
“Who the fuck is this man taking my picture? Too bad for me I’m now a staff of the election campaign so I can’t be angry about anything. Keep smiling...”
He is a policeman and very busy with his business so he couldn’t pay any mind to my camera.
“I’m a stone. Stone doesn’t move. Weird man takes photographs of me but stone doesn’t move... ”
“I don’t want to pose straight on so I will nonchalantly turn my head skyward.”
This girl is a shop employee. She was surprised by my sudden shooting but I was customer for her so she wasn't sure what she was supposed to do--smile or tell me to get out. I felt sorry in this case. Sorry, girl...
TOMOKAZU KOSUGA
thanks for clearing that up. i always assumed you guys didn't like white people. now that i know you don't like each other either i will feel a little more comfortable around you.
Posted by: neener | 04/08/2009 at 22:39
to be honest, i dont knwo what i would do if someone randomly pointed a camera at me. id probably just get really flustered.
Posted by: camerashy | 04/08/2009 at 22:40
Glowing Japana-Christ is unbelievably incredible. Stopping traffic and performing miracles is all in a day's work.
Posted by: SearsPoncho | 04/08/2009 at 22:43
are you one of those guys that asks someone to delete their photo? you guys suck. grow a pair.
Posted by: @camerashy | 04/08/2009 at 22:44
i wish campaign staffers in the states wore green visors. it would make politics that much mroe fun
Posted by: visors! | 04/08/2009 at 22:44
"If I can't hear the shutter it won't take my picture! Ha!"
Posted by: Japolice | 04/08/2009 at 22:55
sorry japanese, but you're all so cute and cuddly i want to have one of you as a pet.
Posted by: olga | 04/08/2009 at 22:58
that dude looks like he has a light saber in his hand
Posted by: cool | 04/08/2009 at 23:02
I wish Japanese lived up to their awesome names just once. Tomokazu - I guess you're okay. I don't even know if that's your first or last name.
Posted by: The Host | 04/08/2009 at 23:27
"Who the fuck is this man taking my picture? Too bad for me I’m now a staff of the election campaign so I can’t angry about anything. Keep smiling...”
I think you're missing a "be" in there. I'll copy edit for cheap beer.
Posted by: mike | 05/08/2009 at 02:04
This is god damn great. This is a hit. We need to apply this to other ethnics as fast as possible.
Posted by: Reginal L Johnson | 05/08/2009 at 05:28
Sarcasm! the last refuge of the scoundrel. Along with Simpson's quotes
Posted by: Dr. Egon Spengler | 05/08/2009 at 10:36
That was interesting. I thought they would respond positively by posing, instead of slight displeasure and annoyance.
Posted by: Jimmy! | 05/08/2009 at 13:30
Try that shit in LA...
Posted by: Mamama | 05/08/2009 at 19:37
In a weird way, their act of trying not to pose turns it more into a pose. Example, Glowing Japana-christ and guy looking upward.
Posted by: Wenz | 06/08/2009 at 19:36