The Tiger Dance

The Tiger Woman is well known in the streets around Shibuya. I was never sure if the nickname came from the smudgy stripes she often painted on her face with makeup or the way she would fiercely go after anyone who tried to take a photo of her - something very uncharacteristic of most Japanese. But she was legend and I was warned by other photographers to stay clear of her as even the sight of someone walking around with a camera was often enough to set her off. I saw her often over many years, always in different places, always scowling. I respected her well known wishes and never tried to take her photo until one morning around 5am I was I was out early and caught her dancing in the street outside a little bar, the music from inside blasting into the street. I didn't want to bother her, but also didn't want to miss this moment, She saw me with the camera, smiled, and kept on dancing.

This photo was originally published in "Don't Go Outside" my first book of Tokyo street photography in 2017.