Photos

Japanese people have a bit of a reputation for taking pictures. Is this justified? I think they do take more pictures than the average Westerner, though not more than the average Westerner living in Japan. There are a few photography trends I've noticed (some of which are not unique to Japanese people).

First, people are more likely to take photos with their phone than with a camera, unless they are actively sightseeing or at a special occasion.

Second, never offer to take a group picture, or you'll get an avalanche of 'oh, with my camera too, please?'s.

Third, people *do* do the peace sign a lot, especially youngish people. I'm afraid I have also caught this disease.

Fourth, Japan has a phenomenon called 'puri kura' (print club), where you go into a little photo booth with your friends and take pictures of yourself lightened to eerie, otherworldly paleness, then debase them with random little hearts, words, flowers and other bling. It's fun. ^_^ Most easily found in game centres (video arcades), but if you have no Japanese, good luck, because most of the machines have time limits, so by the time you realise the screen has told you to go around the side to edit your pictures, you'll have lost your chance, ha ha ha. (speaking from experience now)

Fifth, there is a rather nice culture here where if someone takes a picture of you at some event, or a picture of the two of you together, they will often print off a copy to give you. This is made easier by the 'instant photo print' machines, found particularly in electronics stores, but in other places too.

An odd aspect of this, however, is that people will print and give you even photos of yourself that are grotesquely unflattering, blurry or poorly shot. I really do appreciate the thought, but there are occasions where it would be kinder to keep those photos to yourself, ha ha ha.