Mado by Tomoyuki Sakaguchi.
September 16, 2010 1:01 PM Subscribe
Mado by Tomoyuki Sakaguchi. A series of portraits taken in Tokyo. The subjects are framed by subway doors.
As a traveller through Tokyo - I was amazed just how packed the subways get - and how the Japanese will politely push you into the subway car to maximize the space for everyone. The pictures capture that uniquely Japanese ability to maintain personal mental distance despite being so physically close together.
posted by helmutdog at 1:14 PM on September 16, 2010
posted by helmutdog at 1:14 PM on September 16, 2010
I'm not sure if the photos are really representative of Tokyo as they are representative of folks taking a Tokyo commuter train during rush hour.
posted by KokuRyu at 1:14 PM on September 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by KokuRyu at 1:14 PM on September 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
These are pretty cool. I wish there were more of them.
posted by Xoebe at 1:24 PM on September 16, 2010
posted by Xoebe at 1:24 PM on September 16, 2010
It sure makes the experience of commuting in Tokyo look a bit soul-crushing. I guess that's probably true in most big cities, but every single picture was universally glum.
posted by dellsolace at 1:51 PM on September 16, 2010
posted by dellsolace at 1:51 PM on September 16, 2010
Really like these. But does everyone has that same expression of sad weary resignation riding the subway in Tokyo? I kind of wonder if the photograph avoided anyone with anything close to a smile.
posted by troubles at 1:55 PM on September 16, 2010
posted by troubles at 1:55 PM on September 16, 2010
You ride the subway, and look at the faces in all their humble magnificence and diversity and you think, "Here is humanity sitting for its portrait! If you could make art out of these faces, you would have captured some central truth about humanity, the individual and the city. Where is the Rembrandt, where is the Van Dyke who will do them justice?" Good start here.
posted by Faze at 1:56 PM on September 16, 2010
posted by Faze at 1:56 PM on September 16, 2010
Fantastic portraits. This is the stuff that Metafilter is all about for me. Truly, the Best of the Web.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 2:21 PM on September 16, 2010
posted by PeterMcDermott at 2:21 PM on September 16, 2010
You ride the subway, and look at the faces in all their humble magnificence
Allen Ginsberg claims to have written a short poem about an older gentleman he saw on the subway, and only later did he become aware the it was Béla Bartók. The timing, and the subway line, do conform to what might have been professor Bartók's commute from the West Village to Columbia University.
posted by StickyCarpet at 2:54 PM on September 16, 2010
Allen Ginsberg claims to have written a short poem about an older gentleman he saw on the subway, and only later did he become aware the it was Béla Bartók. The timing, and the subway line, do conform to what might have been professor Bartók's commute from the West Village to Columbia University.
posted by StickyCarpet at 2:54 PM on September 16, 2010
I'd look like that too if I'd been smashed in. Great collection though.
posted by bayani at 3:04 PM on September 16, 2010
posted by bayani at 3:04 PM on September 16, 2010
It sure makes the experience of commuting in Tokyo look a bit soul-crushing.
It is, trust me.
::rushes for his train::
posted by armage at 3:14 PM on September 16, 2010
It is, trust me.
::rushes for his train::
posted by armage at 3:14 PM on September 16, 2010
That one is good. I quite liked the almost curled hand and sort of smile in this photograph.
posted by chunking express at 3:29 PM on September 16, 2010
posted by chunking express at 3:29 PM on September 16, 2010
I remember when I visited Japan and at first I was wondering what all the first was about - the trains were no more crowed than peak times in London. Then one day I happened to get on a lot earlier than normal and hit the rush hour proper... I've never suffered from claustrophobia but being so crushed that my breathing was seriously restricted I had to go into some sort of Zen trance to avoid freaking out.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 3:34 PM on September 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 3:34 PM on September 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
...every single picture was universally glum.
This photographer is just shooting the wrong trains at the wrong time. The Tokyo trains I ride have dynamic, energetic and engaged people like Tom Hanks aboard. And this train car had a smiling Kate Blanchett as passenger, but she's unfortunately obscured here by another commuter.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:28 PM on September 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
This photographer is just shooting the wrong trains at the wrong time. The Tokyo trains I ride have dynamic, energetic and engaged people like Tom Hanks aboard. And this train car had a smiling Kate Blanchett as passenger, but she's unfortunately obscured here by another commuter.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:28 PM on September 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
When you look at the thumbnails only, they look like they've been smushed against the screen of an iPad.
posted by Rora at 6:12 PM on September 16, 2010
posted by Rora at 6:12 PM on September 16, 2010
The most curious thing about the Tokyo trains, though, is the occasional appearances of THE GIANT LIPS!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:15 PM on September 16, 2010
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:15 PM on September 16, 2010
Part of the "glum" look is from the Japanese concepts of honne and tatemae. In short, honne is your private feelings (and face), while tatemae is your public feelings (and face). Generally speaking, Tokyoites aren't gonna chat up the person next to them on the train, or in the convenience store, or while waiting in line at the bank. Largely because when Japanese open up and are friendly to a stranger, they tend to be really friendly, and societal norms dictate that they are obligated in future dealings with this new person. So a polite distance is kept.
It's like when people are quiet in an elevator, even if you were talking with someone before you got in. Except the Japanese will do that for their entire commute. You try not talking in a group full of strangers. You'll have a "glum" look as well. Plus, it's probably during rush hour and those people are tired, either from a lack of sleep or a full day's work.
posted by zardoz at 8:14 PM on September 16, 2010
It's like when people are quiet in an elevator, even if you were talking with someone before you got in. Except the Japanese will do that for their entire commute. You try not talking in a group full of strangers. You'll have a "glum" look as well. Plus, it's probably during rush hour and those people are tired, either from a lack of sleep or a full day's work.
posted by zardoz at 8:14 PM on September 16, 2010
What, no chikan?
Why do you think everyone's frowning?
posted by armage at 8:52 PM on September 16, 2010
Why do you think everyone's frowning?
posted by armage at 8:52 PM on September 16, 2010
Generally speaking, Tokyoites aren't gonna chat up the person next to them on the train, or in the convenience store, or while waiting in line at the bank.
A few years ago I made a trip to Kobe via Umeda Station in Osaka, and a few days later spent some time in Tokyo (which always involves taking the train).
The difference in atmosphere is quite striking. The trains I took in Kansai were loud, noisy and bright with smiles and conversation and chatter. The Tokyo trains I took were very quiet with no conversation whatsoever.
On the other hand, most of Kansai is a dump, while Tokyo (at least in around the Yamanote Loop Line) is sparkling and new.
posted by KokuRyu at 9:00 PM on September 16, 2010
A few years ago I made a trip to Kobe via Umeda Station in Osaka, and a few days later spent some time in Tokyo (which always involves taking the train).
The difference in atmosphere is quite striking. The trains I took in Kansai were loud, noisy and bright with smiles and conversation and chatter. The Tokyo trains I took were very quiet with no conversation whatsoever.
On the other hand, most of Kansai is a dump, while Tokyo (at least in around the Yamanote Loop Line) is sparkling and new.
posted by KokuRyu at 9:00 PM on September 16, 2010
This concept has so much potential. I am not sure who came up with the idea first or whether there was any cross-influence but Michael Wolf has been doing the same thing. One of the pictures from his Tokyo subway set won World Press Photo award.
Where Sakaguchi's photographs are pretty straightforward portraits, Wolf's images, seem to penetrate deeper into the inner world of these commuters.
posted by ianK at 9:25 PM on September 16, 2010
Where Sakaguchi's photographs are pretty straightforward portraits, Wolf's images, seem to penetrate deeper into the inner world of these commuters.
posted by ianK at 9:25 PM on September 16, 2010
armage: "What, no chikan?
Why do you think everyone's frowning?"
I suppose the frowning guys are not enjoying being the victims of unwanted frottage.
posted by bwg at 1:15 AM on September 17, 2010
Why do you think everyone's frowning?"
I suppose the frowning guys are not enjoying being the victims of unwanted frottage.
posted by bwg at 1:15 AM on September 17, 2010
These are great candid shots. They really capture the feeling of claustrophobia.
Tokyo in general has a reputation for being "colder" than other parts of Japan (big city syndrome?). People from Kansai tend to be more open and animated (many of Japan's comedians hail from there).
Rush hour trains (on one now) in and around Tokyo are quite uncomfortable and stressful - I almost never see anyone smiling on the train during those times - especially in the morning. It's not uncommon for a couple salarymen to start jostling, then fighting on the train, and then have the fight spill out onto the platform. People fall and hurt themselves; people trip / get pushed and fall onto the tracks (or jump on them) and the trains have to stop for a while, then the platform gets even more crowded and everyone's late.
I see commuters using all sorts of techniques just to get a momentary repreive from the crowds and stress; some choose their job and apartment so that you go away from Tokyo in the morning and towards it in the evening. Another good one is to leave home a few minutes earlier and choose the train car furthest away from the stairs/escalator/elevator so you can have a couple minutes of personal space between trains.
I just get nice and blazed before I enter "the matrix".
Luckily for me I'm a foreigner, so no one wants to stand / sit next to me anyway - I've been on trains too crowded to breathe properly and had the seats on either side stay empty the entire ride.
(And about those chikan - it's not just the guys that do the feeling up on the trains; I got felt up by a high school girl on a rush hour train one time..)
posted by tbonicus at 5:54 AM on September 17, 2010
Tokyo in general has a reputation for being "colder" than other parts of Japan (big city syndrome?). People from Kansai tend to be more open and animated (many of Japan's comedians hail from there).
Rush hour trains (on one now) in and around Tokyo are quite uncomfortable and stressful - I almost never see anyone smiling on the train during those times - especially in the morning. It's not uncommon for a couple salarymen to start jostling, then fighting on the train, and then have the fight spill out onto the platform. People fall and hurt themselves; people trip / get pushed and fall onto the tracks (or jump on them) and the trains have to stop for a while, then the platform gets even more crowded and everyone's late.
I see commuters using all sorts of techniques just to get a momentary repreive from the crowds and stress; some choose their job and apartment so that you go away from Tokyo in the morning and towards it in the evening. Another good one is to leave home a few minutes earlier and choose the train car furthest away from the stairs/escalator/elevator so you can have a couple minutes of personal space between trains.
I just get nice and blazed before I enter "the matrix".
Luckily for me I'm a foreigner, so no one wants to stand / sit next to me anyway - I've been on trains too crowded to breathe properly and had the seats on either side stay empty the entire ride.
(And about those chikan - it's not just the guys that do the feeling up on the trains; I got felt up by a high school girl on a rush hour train one time..)
posted by tbonicus at 5:54 AM on September 17, 2010
I've been on trains too crowded to breathe properly and had the seats on either side stay empty the entire ride.
Wow. That's pretty extreme, right there. I've been in Tokyo for 15 years, and have been on a hell of a lotta trains too crowded to breathe in, and that's never happened to me. Perhaps it's something else besides your foreign-ness...?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:04 AM on September 17, 2010
Wow. That's pretty extreme, right there. I've been in Tokyo for 15 years, and have been on a hell of a lotta trains too crowded to breathe in, and that's never happened to me. Perhaps it's something else besides your foreign-ness...?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:04 AM on September 17, 2010
I agree the standoffishness is true of Tokyo like nowhere else in Japan. I lived in Osaka for a year and people there are much more gregarious and outgoing. In Tokyo everyone just lives in their own little bubble, all the time.
I live in the outskirts of Tokyo, and I remember the day after we moved I was walking around in my neighborhood with my wife and some stranger walking the other way on the sidewalk looked at us, smiled and said "Konnichiwa", and walked on. We were pleasantly surprised and almost shocked; that shit just doesn't happen in Tokyo.
posted by zardoz at 5:45 PM on September 17, 2010
I live in the outskirts of Tokyo, and I remember the day after we moved I was walking around in my neighborhood with my wife and some stranger walking the other way on the sidewalk looked at us, smiled and said "Konnichiwa", and walked on. We were pleasantly surprised and almost shocked; that shit just doesn't happen in Tokyo.
posted by zardoz at 5:45 PM on September 17, 2010
In Tokyo everyone just lives in their own little bubble, all the time.
Yup, that's pretty much true.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:22 PM on September 17, 2010
Yup, that's pretty much true.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:22 PM on September 17, 2010
Luckily for me I'm a foreigner, so no one wants to stand / sit next to me anyway - I've been on trains too crowded to breathe properly and had the seats on either side stay empty the entire ride.
Sorry, but unless you have the worst BO known to man or a severe case of tuberculosis, that just won't happen. What line was this on?
posted by armage at 7:01 PM on September 17, 2010
Sorry, but unless you have the worst BO known to man or a severe case of tuberculosis, that just won't happen. What line was this on?
posted by armage at 7:01 PM on September 17, 2010
unless you have the worst BO known to man
Well, there you go, armage wasn't afraid to come right out and say it!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:35 PM on September 17, 2010
Well, there you go, armage wasn't afraid to come right out and say it!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:35 PM on September 17, 2010
Ok, I'll bite - 'cause this needs to be addressed:
Yes, armage / flapjax: if you have never experienced it, it must never happen, right?
What line was this?
Pick one.
Something besides my foreign-ness?
Well, I did have beautiful, salon-styled, immaculately cared for and non-smelly, shoulder-length dreads at the time that I was sitting there in my suit reading and smelling like roses, so it probably wasn't something besides my foreigness, but rather that I was TOO foreign.
If, however, I had just finished a reggae set in my proper cubby-hole Roppongi bar, I'd have the opposite problem: namely Japanese people running up to me and touching my hair without permission ("Sugoi neh, sugoi neh.."), resulting in my having to wash them everyday to prevent them from smelling.
Never happens?
Throw some red, gold and green clothes on me and a guitar in my hand and I'm ok for an encore or to buy drinks for, but put me in a suit in the train and all of a sudden I'm somewhere I shouldn't be.
I admit it would be nice to think that the problem was as simple, shallow and low-brow as something like BO. Especially if, for example, I happened to be married to a Japanese national and had to rationalize that against how I was treated in society every day. But the truth is, despite being a safe, fun, interesting place to live, Japan is a very xenophobic, racist place and very much treats different races with varying degrees of scorn / acceptance.
The brown people here often wonder if the Japanese learned it from somewhere..
posted by tbonicus at 11:16 PM on September 17, 2010
Yes, armage / flapjax: if you have never experienced it, it must never happen, right?
What line was this?
Pick one.
Something besides my foreign-ness?
Well, I did have beautiful, salon-styled, immaculately cared for and non-smelly, shoulder-length dreads at the time that I was sitting there in my suit reading and smelling like roses, so it probably wasn't something besides my foreigness, but rather that I was TOO foreign.
If, however, I had just finished a reggae set in my proper cubby-hole Roppongi bar, I'd have the opposite problem: namely Japanese people running up to me and touching my hair without permission ("Sugoi neh, sugoi neh.."), resulting in my having to wash them everyday to prevent them from smelling.
Never happens?
Throw some red, gold and green clothes on me and a guitar in my hand and I'm ok for an encore or to buy drinks for, but put me in a suit in the train and all of a sudden I'm somewhere I shouldn't be.
I admit it would be nice to think that the problem was as simple, shallow and low-brow as something like BO. Especially if, for example, I happened to be married to a Japanese national and had to rationalize that against how I was treated in society every day. But the truth is, despite being a safe, fun, interesting place to live, Japan is a very xenophobic, racist place and very much treats different races with varying degrees of scorn / acceptance.
The brown people here often wonder if the Japanese learned it from somewhere..
posted by tbonicus at 11:16 PM on September 17, 2010
Heard, tbonicus. I am duly chastened for not being empathetic enough to the shades of racist reaction that get darker as the skin of the foreigner in question gets darker.
I see you're a musician, so am I. Sending you some Mefimail now.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 11:31 PM on September 17, 2010
I see you're a musician, so am I. Sending you some Mefimail now.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 11:31 PM on September 17, 2010
Fair enough, tbonicus, and I'm sorry—I didn't mean to accuse you of being the problem. It's just that I've lived in Tokyo for several years myself and have never seen Japanese people avoid a non-Japanese person on the train like that —black, white, or otherwise. (Perhaps it's different in other cities in Japan, but Tokyo has always seemed pretty blasé towards foreigners on the train.)
But that's just my own experience, while yours clearly differs. I empathize with your frustration, for what it's worth. Japan is not exactly a utopia of racial harmony, obviously, and it has a long way to go before it can fully accept non-Japanese as equals in society, but I hope one day that it can.
By the way, I look forward to meeting you if you're able to come to the next Tokyo meetup! (And perhaps hearing some of your music on MefiMusic, maybe in collaboration with flapjax at midnite here.)
posted by armage at 5:57 AM on September 27, 2010
But that's just my own experience, while yours clearly differs. I empathize with your frustration, for what it's worth. Japan is not exactly a utopia of racial harmony, obviously, and it has a long way to go before it can fully accept non-Japanese as equals in society, but I hope one day that it can.
By the way, I look forward to meeting you if you're able to come to the next Tokyo meetup! (And perhaps hearing some of your music on MefiMusic, maybe in collaboration with flapjax at midnite here.)
posted by armage at 5:57 AM on September 27, 2010
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