@Etsune: You need to apply for permission to shoot photographs on privately owned real estate. It usually takes a few weeks to get. I didn’t bother. ^_-

@Leah B.: Unfortunately, it was not that exciting. Five security people walked up to us. We moved away to another spot. They approached us again. We walked around the corner. It was all very laid-back. At least for us; the security people may have been fuming inside that we ignored them…

Interesting that you don’t feel the hair. I actually love this style. I was first wondering if it is maybe an Asian thing (you see this style a lot in Japan), but then realized it was extremely popular worldwide during the 60s. Do you see this style at all where you are?

I totally agree, family is far more important!

@Etsune: Not at all. Marijera is just as used to it as I am. When you shoot in public places in Japan, it is only a matter of time before someone in uniform shows up. If they had caught us again, we would have moved to another place once more. ^ _ –

Never need to pull a “foreigner who doesn’t speak Japanese” spiel, because the people are generally quite friendly and polite, even when they tell you not to do something. If they are not, I request to talk with their superior and they immediately start singing a different song. I did that a few years ago when I was just talking with friends and got an apology from the manager. The tough security guy suddenly transformed into a shivering twig.

@Etsune: Yes, especially in Tokyo they are extremely strict about this. They worry about the competition. The whole concept of sharing information is still a bit difficult to grasp for many Japanese, and that is particularly true for Tokyo, originally a city of dour faced samurai. Osaka, founded as a city of fun-loving merchants, is a lot more relaxed about it.

Keeping information to yourself was so common in Japan in the old days, that until about 150 years ago, even laws were rarely published in Japan. People never knew exactly what laws applied to them. Can you imagine the stress that must give?

You still notice this in government. It can be at times—but thankfully not always—be extremely difficult to get information from government officials in Tokyo. Last year I tried to get information about a particular financial regulation for banks for a newspaper story.

I was sent from one agency to the other, each one saying it was the other’s responsibility and that they couldn’t give the information. I actually eventually ended up at the very agency I first started with; I had made a perfect circle through close to ten agencies and departments.

Never got anyone to tell me on record about the regulation even though Japanese banks give it as a reason to collect very private information about their clients. I did get someone to give me info off the record, though. That in itself was quite an accomplishment.

Incidentally, Japanese members of parliament have told me that even they at times can’t get the information they need from Japanese government agencies…

@Leah B.: Ah interesting. I think that tight look is very popular in Japan.

@Aleksandr: I love your very detailed comment. Makes me think and imagine how different Marijera would look with your suggestions.

@Aleksandr: This comment was clear. There is one about central Russia that I didn’t quite get. Otherwise, your English is fine. ^^