Tokyo Freshman

Author: Wen Fang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: Japan, a familiar yet strange nation. What kind of young people live there? Are their girls all like those in adult videos and idol dramas? Are their boys like those in Battle Royale? Do they enjoy war? Do they engage in compensated dating? Do they practice threesomes? The two authors of this book—a seasoned journalist who has lived in Japan for many years and a fashion photographer who travels to France—bring you authentic visuals and investigations. Over 200 full-color photos feature stylish and quirky men and women on the streets of Tokyo, visuals that surpass your imagination. More than 20,000 words of investigative reports cover topics such as beliefs, sexual experiences, love, and the nation, with questions that are bold and daring, and answers that are unfiltered. A feast for fashion and visual senses—come and experience it!
During the interviews, we met a seasoned Japanese journalist. He had studied as a graduate student at Peking University for several years, so I could communicate with him freely in Chinese. When discussing the issue of young people’s work in Japan, he expressed concern and said, “In recent years, a large number of young people only focus on personal pleasure, avoid seeking formal employment, and instead take short-term jobs to earn money, which they then spend on leisure. They don’t pay taxes to society. Our generation is still working hard and paying taxes, but because of the behavior of these young people, perhaps by the time we are old, the national treasury will be empty. And it will be even more concerning when they grow old.”
Looking at his slightly furrowed brows, I thought of the young people I had photographed on the streets and was deeply moved by the realization that the nation’s golden age had passed. Their rapid development had left them with some of the aftereffects of sudden wealth, unlike the European youth who carried an air of aristocratic composure. Perhaps for us Chinese, Japan serves as a very good lesson.