Part 2 in my Osaka series
See Part 1 here
Few inner city hubs have as much character as Amemura in Osaka. In the 70's it came to represent the burgeoning youth culture, which had ties to Western, specifically American, influence. However, to say it represents an approximation or parody of American culture is totally off; it is uniquely and unapologetically Japanese.
While there are stores that cater toward Western style, everything is packaged in a Japanese way. For example, the concept of a cheerleader or rapper in terms of clothing can have a vastly different approach in Amemura.
At all times, people in their 20's and 30's are darting back and forth. There is a perpetual party going on in the quintessential meeting place, Triangle Park, where one never seems to need to have a busking license (or skill) to perform acoustic covers of Linda Linda.
What I particularly found striking about this shot is the toyification of the denizens. Taken from the roof of Gallery Paraiso, the scenery almost looks like a prop. Aided by the natural radial blur of the Holga, the effect comes off like a vast diorama. This causes me to reflect on life's fleetingness and how meaningful our relationship are, because human relations are what define us as more than just objects.