Snap Shots
Armed with disposable cameras, dozens of Japanese teenagers set out to record the coolest stuff of their daily lives
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To capture how Japan's young people view life, we asked 85 of them to photograph their daily routine. Disposable cameras were handed out in Tokyo and Wakayama City to teens aged 14 to 18. The result: visual evidence that seems to counter several preconceptions about Japan's youth. For a generation that gripes about loneliness and alienation, a surprising number of pictures document unabashed giddiness and affection. And loving shots of families living, playing and eating together offset often-heard complaints that kids no longer spend much time at home. Sure, there are plenty of images of rebels puffing on cigarettes or sporting cool shades. But those of us who had the privilege to sift through the 2,700 pictures found a refreshing overall innocence. What these amateur photographers seemed to want to document most were life's ordinary pleasures: the perfect basketball shot, a favorite meal, a prized guitar, a much-loved teddy bear.
THIS WEEK'S TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Young Japan Home
The Me Generation:
The country's privileged youth are struggling to define what they want. Their efforts--both frivolous and fundamental--are already beginning to transform the culture
Day in the Life:
What a 17-year-old girl does--and buys
Culture Club:
Tokyo has taken over as the source of what's hip and happening for the rest of East Asia
Sound Factory:
An Okinawa school turns out stars
Talk Talk:
What teens are chatting about online
Not Playing Ball:
A fresh generation is starting to shake up the hidebound world of Japanese baseball
Outside the Box:
Breaking the education straitjacket
Viewpoint:
Actress Youki Kudoh says respect the old ways
Viewpoint:
Parents should examine their own ethics
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