The dreaded ‘peace sign’ invariably appears if you ask to take someone’s photo in Japan, and the number of times I’ve been presented with it is way too many to remember. How many times it has actually worked as part of an image, on the other hand, is a much smaller number. It’s one. This one to be exact.
So as offensive as it can be, getting the decidedly non-peaceful V sign was a very unexpected treat. One further added to by being brandished under a similarly surprised looking giant octopus.
Ron Ouwerkerk says
Haha, funny!! Do you think he knew what he was gesturing or that he got the peace sign backwards?? That particular version of F*** Y** is specific to the UK, so he would have had to spend time there or have some background in British culture.
Lee says
I honestly don’t know, which makes me like it even more. Admittedly the chances of him knowing this particular insult aren’t high, but there again, neither are the chances of him totally getting the peace sign wrong. The odds, of course, favour a badly executed peace sign, but I really hope he was telling me, in no uncertain terms, exactly where to go!
john says
It looks like the octopus came a cropper at that very spot.
Lee says
It does indeed.
YTSL says
Interesting that he went for the inverted V rather than just the middle finger option! Did you respond with anything beyond (further) camera clicking? 😀
Lee says
It really is. I took this photo, plus one frame before, and my reaction when I realised what he was doing was to laugh. It just wasn’t what I expected. I’d like to think he responded with a cheeky grin, but the mask obscured his expression and then he was gone.
Jenn says
The expression of the octopus is so perfect! 🙂
Lee says
It is. Always liked this building, so it was nice to finally have it as part of a photo, rather than just the photo.
cdilla says
What a great photograph. Looking at the angle he’s at a loose peace gesture looks favourite to me, but there is still ambiguity.
I don’t know whether it’s just me but I’m fascinated by the narrow gaps between buildings. My wife often sighs when I stop to take a photo of yet another narrow place. And that door on the right is just splendid. I’m pretty sure the last time I could have used that particular portal for egress was when I was 10.
Lee says
Thanks. The ambiguity is great. No way of knowing if he was being peaceful or otherwise. My head says the former, my heart the latter!
Those gaps are fascinating. Surprising what you sometimes see tucked away in them too. And yeah, even in relation to Japan’s many small doors, that one is especially narrow.