trip to Japan

[oscroft]

Of course this is the famous Vui sign, maybe the digital equivalent of a smile. Guess I should have put a smiley in my first post

Aha, the joke went right over my head -

 

[StuartR]

If you have never been to Japan and try street photography, it is tough ... Japanese people in general don't like it much when their photo is taken by a stranger, especially a foreign stranger. In Tokyo , where lots of foreigner live, it is not that difficult if you choose the "correct" places.

Having some Japanese friends with similar interests makes it easier. Have a look at gramme_friday's photos at flickr. He lives in Sapporo (like me) and his photos are very good regarding "street photography".

Cheers,

maddoc

I lived for about six months in Sapporo and found the people there to be pretty receptive to street photography. At least, as receptive as they are in New York. While people don't always love it, they generally don't mind it. I never had anyone chastise me for it...but then again, I did not hang around Susukino and try to photograph the soaplands. Exercise common sense, and don't photograph people who are missing any pinky fingers...they might be Yakuza, mobsters...not taking kindly to photography. Generally, the only places that I have found that are not keen on photographer's are the shadier places like pachinko parlors and
soaplands (aka erotic massage/brothels/strip joints etc).

Otherwise, I would say you will be safer than anywhere else you might be. Have fun!

They don't mind you sitting in front of starbucks with a tripod either...

Or if you ask, (preferably in Japanese), people working might let you photograph them as well.

Just use common sense, be polite, and if someone does not want their picture taken, have the good grace to not to take it.

 

[ampguy]

it's an honorable thing

it's an honorable thing

Having the Oji fight you for the last seat is an honor. It means they're treating you like a fellow country person and not like an outsider

I spent six weeks with my family in Nagoya. It was a very pleasant experience. Japanese people are used to seeing cameras being used in the streets. I was never bothered or annoyed while in Japan, except occasionally when being in an elevator or subway and then some older women would push us aside.

 

[ampguy]

General info. for outsiders to Japan:

Basically, if you don't speak Japanese fluently, you should memorize this phrase to keep you out of trouble: "Sumimasen, Gomenasai, Moshiwake Arimasen"

Say it anytime you are confronted, and bow down deeply for about 30 seconds, the lower the better.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Watch out for the guys with the big hair, raised collars, and pointy shoes that hang around Kabukicho in Shinjuku. If you're with a pretty girl, they might try and talk her into working at a hostess bar for the night