In the Shadows

Japan’s metropolises transform at night. A spectacle of shadow, color and aromas of cooking. Voices subdued in the day, rise in pitch and laughter bellows. Lanterns are lit. After work, men and women gather at the bars near train stations, and the streets empty as dinner, sake and beer fill the Isakayas. Geishas in small efficient steps rush to their appointments. Homeless men prepare their shelter for the night in a cardboard box or on a bench. Workers of the night take their post in front of nightclubs. Yakuza watch their streets and establishments as do the police. The night gets drunk and dark. Sometimes a downpour clears the air.