As darkness falls over Asakusa in Tokyo, loads of locals who have just finished work head to their favourite local restaurant for some amazing and succulent ramen. A lady brandishes a treat in the air and makes her Chiba Inu jump and twirl for the entertainment of passers-by. Salarymen and tourists on their third or fourth beer start getting rowdy. Everyone is eating, drinking, laughing, yelling and having a good time…it’s just wonderful!
Fantastic stuff. Good ol’ salaryman…letting off some stream in their lives of quiet desperation!
In this moment they were so happy, in their element. But yeah first thing on a Monday morning it’s a different story. On the subway one morning I tried to inconspicuously take photos of them as they commuted to work. Maybe that’s cruel or ridiculously touristy of me – possibly. The results were clear though – they were so so miserable and tired, seemed existentially barren. But I guess who wouldn’t be at 7 am on a Monday morning going to work!