Jason Walter Welch – New York City / Tokyo

Delivery Man, Shinjuku Alleyway. Tokyo

Going through some summer photos that I haven’t posted.  Here’s one from early August, when the temperature in Tokyo was well over 100 degrees.  A salaryman riding a bicycle.  The moment happened quickly as he was zooming along via his bicycle.  But not quickly enough for him to not notice me positioning for a shot of him passing by.  Ironically, his bicycle of choice – Chevrolet.

Now I’ve tried to understand the terminology here, really.  However, “salaryman,” a term used to define one’s position in Japan’s business world, is baffling to me.  From what I understand, a salaryman is a man, yes, and any office worker who has yet to “make it” aka become rich and powerful.  He’s the man that works long hours yet doesn’t make the big bucks or hold the power of an executive.  So most businessmen in Japan are salarymen, I suppose.  Hence the reason why this fine gentleman is, on a very hot, humid Tokyo summer day, using a bicycle to head home after work; surely not by choice of being a bicycle enthusiast. He’s no David Byrne.