The Streets of Tokyo

by Robert George, Jan 2, 2003 | Destinations: Japan / Tokyo

Japanese salarymen are expected to show devotion to the company by working long hours, often six days a week. So, a sunny lunch hour provides a welcome opportunity for a little R&R.

Image © 2002 Robert George

Buddhist monks in training walk the streets of Japan collecting alms as a means of practicing humility. Clothed in traditional robes and bowl-shaped rice straw hats to shield them from the temptations of the flesh, they provide an element of stark contrast to the materialistic world of contemporary urban life.

Amid the dazzling array of glitzy department stores in downtown Tokyo, neighborhood vendors still peddle their wares in open stalls on the sidewalks.

In a culture where conformity and group consciousness are key, many of Japan's youth strive to express their individuality. Contemporary fashion offers a creative way to show a little style and escape the confines of their school and office uniforms.

A story told with photos.

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Every year on November 15, Japan celebrates Shichi-Go-San--Children's Day. Dressed in their very finest garments, girls and boys aged three, boys aged five, and girls aged seven, go with their families to nearby shrines, where they line up, sometimes for hours, to await their turn to be blessed by the presiding priest. After the blessing, the child is presented with a gift of long sticks of candy called chitose-ame, "thousand year sweets," wrapped in ornate bags decorated with cranes and turtles, both symbols of longevity.

Kimono

Robert George<br>Text by Celeste Heiter

Rural life in Gunma Prefecture moves at a much slower pace than the typical urban existence in Tokyo.

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A view by the Miyagawa River in Hida Takayama, Japan (c) Sze-Leng Tan

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The Streets of Tokyo

Image © 2002 Robert George

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The Streets of Tokyo

Image © 2002 Robert George

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