kimono director ('08) (asakusa, tokyo)

Posted by timothy sullivan (Tokyo, Japan) on 5 March 2008 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.

coming of age day (4:4)

I'm not quite sure why, but I think this photo is so expressive of Japanese patience.

When the Japanese reach age 20, they are considered adults; they can finally legally have a beer, drive, and enjoy all of the other benefits of adulthood. Often, to signify this rite of passage, women will dress in these kinds of elaborate kimono, head to a ceremony at the local town hall, and then head off to the pub or to karaoke with their friends.

Older people, and men in particular, love this holiday as it lets them exercise their photography skills. Female photographers will often approach these kimono-clad women and ask for their permission to take a photo; afterwards they have a bit of a chat. Male photographers, on the other hand, seem to feel assume the role of director for one day, and seem to just walk up to random women and start posing them for a photo. Odd, I thought; but it's a funny thing to watch.

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