Japanese streets at night

Osaka, April 2023

Prints

framed by nature

Arashiyama, Kyoto

Shot with Fujifilm X100F

foggy Amsterdam, December 2023

Fujifilm X100F

Prints

people at teamLabs Tokyo

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street cats, Osaka 2023

Inemuri, Tired Society (Japan 2023)

Japanese people indulge in napping everywhere. This practice is called "inemuri" or sleeping while present. During my time in Japan, I have witnessed people sleep in public as a common part of social life practices. In Tokyo, especially, dozens of so called salarymen nap in their neat suits on the metro at all times of day. Japanese work ethic is known for long work hours until exhaustion. Tiredness is viewed as a result of previous work efforts and therefore a sign of diligence and commitment rather than laziness. Curiously, there is another Japanese expression "tanuki neiri" that refers to the act of fake sleeping - similar to the expression "playing possum" in English. Fake sleeping can be perceived as a way to avert being fully present in the social space and possibly avoid awkward social situations. Either way, this practice is widely spread not matter the age and occupation.

lone commuter, Nara station

Nara deers

Fushimi Inari-taisha, Kyoto

Night life - Osaka, Japan

Fujifilm X100F

Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo

Fujifilm X100F - Kodakchrome 

like a painting, Camps Bay

cat in a catbowl, fruit in a fruitbowl

Amsterdam house

people watching - De Pijp, Amsterdam

summer nights, dining out - amsterdam noord

living people living room - cafe brecht, amsterdam

la lumière - the light

Lille, July 2022