Three guys, maybe between 17 and 19 years old, wife-beaters (is it still okay for me to call them that?), chains, and baseball caps. Being all cool. Looking a little like they want to be tough, or appear tough. It is late at night and a long ride home from Tokyo. People sleep where they can. These guys are getting tired. Two squat on the floor of the train. One uses a box he has with him as a seat.
The ride goes on. More people get off. They can use the adjustable seats by the doors. Two sit on them. The other guy, the smallest of the three and the one who looks the most tired, still sits on his box. I fall asleep for a bit. I wake up and look over at them again. The smaller one is slumped over with his head resting in his friend’s lap. It is the most adorable thing and I wanted to take a picture but didn’t.
Would you ever see this in Canada? Would a guy dare to take advantage of close comfort from a friend? The complexity of Japanese personal space completely amazes me. In some ways I feel gaping voids of uncertainty but then in many other ways I feel welcoming and warmness. I can only interpret through experience so I am constantly left very curious as to what people are thinking and feeling.