Japanese street portraits from Bruce Gilden, the man who put the ugly into portrait photography. Mostly the late Nineties, with a strong yakuza presence, from his latest book with the (presumably ironic) title Cherry Blossom:
Tokyo. Japan. 1996. © Bruce Gilden | Magnum Photos
Japan. 1999. © Bruce Gilden | Magnum Photos
George Abe, right, an ex-Yakuza member and celebrity writer. Asakusa. Japan. 1998. © Bruce Gilden | Magnum Photos
Tokyo. Japan. 2000 © Bruce Gilden | Magnum Photos
Man on the weekend smoking. Asakasa. Tokyo. Japan. 1996. © Bruce Gilden | Magnum Photos
Japan. 1999. © Bruce Gilden | Magnum Photos
Japan. 1999. © Bruce Gilden | Magnum Photos
Homeless man. Japan. 1996. © Bruce Gilden | Magnum Photos
Homeless couple. Japan. 1996. © Bruce Gilden | Magnum Photos
Japan. 1998. © Bruce Gilden | Magnum Photos
Japan. 1998. © Bruce Gilden | Magnum Photos
Japan. 1998. © Bruce Gilden | Magnum Photos
Business man at lunchtime outside JR station. Kaeda. Tokyo. Japan. 1996. © Bruce Gilden | Magnum Photos
He's got some nerve, the photographer. I don't think I'd have stuck my camera in front of some of these characters – especially when their reaction seems to involve pulling a weapon from inside their jackets.
I've featured Gilden many times before. For instance:
At the State Fair
Syracuse 1981
Lost and Found
In Ballarò Market
Mick Hartley 
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