Throughout the years I’ve taken many photos of everyday life here in Japan. In them, I captured people of all kinds, waiting in all kinds of places. I consider it to be one of the most interesting themes.
Whether it’s a queue for the latest ramen spot, a train platform during rush hour, or a traffic light in an intersection, the Japanese approach to waiting is imbued with a sense of orderliness even though sometimes there aren’t any visible lines or signs to queue. The lines that form are a testament to the nation’s discipline, molded by upbringing and reinforced by community.
Although most of the time it is clear what is happening, there is supposedly a thin line between waiting and not waiting, as shown vaguely in some of the photos. Is that person genuinely waiting for something or someone, or is he or she just killing time?
You decide.
