Some days are still really quite warm, but there’s finally a genuine sense of autumn in Tokyo, and along with more comfortable temperatures comes some truly wonderful light. The angle and intensity of it is mercifully a world away from that of the summer, so once again it allows for photos like the capture below.
The man, along with the contrast of light and shadow, reminded me of a documentary I’ve mentioned on Tokyo Times before, The Great Happiness Space: Tale of an Osaka Love Thief. A film that for now at least is available on YouTube, and after not seeing it for a long time, a re-watch reminded me of what an informative hour and a bit of viewing it really is.
Shinjuku’s Kabukicho red light district has fascinated me for a long time, and while it has certainly changed and been reduced in size over the years, it’s still an incredibly interesting place to walk around. Like so many others, however, I merely observe — passing through with some knowledge of the area, but little in the way of any real insight into the lives and experiences of those who actually earn their livings there. As such, I can say with reasonable certainty that the man in the photo is a host, but until watching the aforementioned film, I had no real idea of what working in a host club entailed, and even less sense of the surprisingly important part it plays in the lives of the young women who spend their time and money in such establishments. A documentary that does a remarkably honest and often tender job of showing those aspects, plus at the same time it says an awful lot about Japanese society as a whole, and in many ways the human condition itself. Elements that this photo can only try and hint at.
Sean says
Thank you for the recommendation. That’s my Friday night movie! 🙂 Awesome shot as always!
Lee says
Thanks a lot, and you are welcome. It’s a film worthy of any night!
Richard says
Thanks for a great photo and a film recommendation, too! Although the Covid case numbers are much improved there, please stay safe.
Lee says
You are very welcome. I can’t recommend that film highly enough. A truly fascinating insight into a rarely shown world.
Cheers. The numbers really have dropped enormously here. About 73% of the population now fully vaccinated too, and with masks still worn by pretty much everyone, pretty much everywhere, those numbers will hopefully stay low.
cdilla says
The documentary puts some background perspective on several of your photographs. How wasted they look as they emerge into dawns early light. It’s an education to sit on the fringes of lives like these. It does seem that, in Japan at least, there is an additional tributary the money is allowed to flow through before finding it’s way into to the pockets of those who ultimately own such districts. In London, in the 80’s anyway, it was a much more direct route. Sex to drugs with very little Rock and Roll.
Lee says
Yes, it’s a fascinating look into a very different world. So much sadness behind the booze-soaked high jinks too. Everyone seems so aware, and yet at the same time so intent on trying to forget what they are really doing. Yes, that’s a good call about the money. There’s definitely a lot being made by all, but clearly some are coming away with a hell of a lot more than others…
john says
The red text/white frame matches the guy perfectly.
Thank you for the link. Therapy would be a much cheaper and healthier option to an addiction that masks the problem, but then the hairstyles may not be up to speed.
I’m reminded of the Yura Yura Teikoku song ‘Hollow Me’
‘You robbed me of my heart
I’m a huge hollow cavity’
PS. It is cooler here too (brr), and the grey is very grey.
Lee says
Yeah, I really liked the colour connection. Worked out very nicely. If there’d been a dash of yellow on his outfit it would have been perfect.
You are very welcome. Always keen to recommend it to as many people people as possible. Those hairstyles and fashion might get plenty of attention in the media, but lives like those depicted almost never do.
Thankfully only cooler here rather than actually cold. Been regularly t-shirt weather in the daytime, with only long sleeves needed at night. If only we could have it like this the whole year round…