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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Perhaps the most anticipated and beloved celebration in Japan is the season known as Ohanami. The word translates as flower watching, and depending upon the weather in mid-spring, sometime during the month of April, the entire nation of Japan bursts into bloom with the ubiquitous sakura, the flowering cherry tree. The sakura create a frosty-pink canopy over city parks and country hillsides alike, and the people of Japan emerge after the long winter to rejoice in this ephemeral season. Beneath a canopy of blossoms, street vendors offer an array of traditional foods, including yakitori, skewers of savory grilled chicken.

The Taste of Japan

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The Streets of Tokyo

Image © 2002 Robert George

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Japan / Vietnam / Sri Lanka

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