Congratulations and many thanks to the co-editors, Jennifer McGuire, Christopher Tso and Anna Vainio, on putting together and releasing the Japan Anthropology Workshop Newsletter (#52) that catches up since the last publication in 2016 and launches the newsletter into 2022. The cover photo features a young Japanese skateboarder.
「SK8ER の女の子」Photo by Steven C. Fedorowicz. Copyright 2021.
The photo was taken at the Tawaramoto Skate Park in Nara Prefecture in 2019 and celebrates the glocalization and
success of skateboarding in Japan. Skateboard parks and schools are increasing in number for dedicated skaters of
all ages, including this 6-year-old girl. Park and Street Skateboarding were Olympic sports for the first time at Tokyo
in 2021 and Japanese skaters won five medals (three gold) in the events.
I don't know how I missed this. This photo was the Picture Of The Day on the Japan Today website on January 28, 2022. The title was "Mean look" and the text merely read "A poster in a Tokyo subway station asks for public cooperation in the fight against terrorism."
I copied the photo to my desktop because of my interest in sign language/facial expressions and police posters. I rediscovered it on my computer the other day and thought to myself, hey, this guy looks familiar. And sure enough, it is Gorō (actor Yutaka Matsushige, actually)! From the Asahi Shimbun, January 15, 2022:
"Zero terrorism" Yutaka Matsushige appeals to prevent terrorism The Metropolitan Police Department creates a video
The Metropolitan Police Department made a video calling for the prevention of terrorism by actor Yutaka Matsushige (58) , who is known for his popular drama "Solitary Gourmet." It will be distributed on the street vision in front of JR Shinjuku Station , digital signage (electronic signage) in the city, and the agency's website for one year from the 14th . They also make posters, which are said to fit in train stations, airports, pharmacies, etc. (rough translation from the original Japanese)
In the Spirit of open-text, collaboration, communication and Good Anthropology...
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Steven C. Fedorowicz is a cultural anthropologist, visual anthropologist, Associate Professor of Anthropology and reluctant blogger.
