Dear readers,
after the interview with historian Miho Matsunuma and our review of the book Lessons from Japan, let's continue our discovery of Japanese civilization with French photographer Pierre-Elie de Pibrac, whose exhibition Ephemeral Portraits of Japan is currently on show at the French National Museum of Asian Art in Paris until January 15, 2024.
The photographer spent 8 months immersed in Japan with his family. Far from a postcard picture, he wanted to gain a better understanding of the country by photographing everyday Japanese people in an approach akin to that of an anthropologist. As he explained to me, "photography is my alibi for getting to know a culture and a people".
This article is a selection of 5 photos from the 30 in the exhibition. I went to interview the photographer at the museum and, for 3 photos, I recorded his explanation to understand his work better (audio is in French).
1. The Salaryman
Salaryman is the term by which the Japanese refer to a company's non-executive managers or employees. More than a type of position or responsibility, the word designates a masculine lifestyle, in which work and co-workers occupy most of the salaryman's time and interests. Salarymen are expected to work long days with plenty of overtime and to participate in after-work activities, such as nomikai evenings. Salarymen are among the hardest hit by karōshi, death by overwork.
2. The evaporated
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Why the West to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.