In Japan, the third Monday of September is annually celebrated as Keiro-no-hi, or Respect for the Aged Day. Traditional Japanese culture accords elders with great respect, and this national holiday was designated to honor and celebrate all elderly citizens and their achievements.
Elderly men sit on bench at Senso-ji (temple), Asakusa district, Tokyo, Japan
In 1988, I was visiting the renowned Senso-ji (Asakusa Kannon temple) in Tokyo when I spied these elderly men resting together. Knowing the scene could change at any moment, I moved in closer and knelt down to shoot at the same level as they were sitting. With my zoom lens, I composed the scene, cropping out distracting elements so the focus would just be on the four men. Temple visitors and others passed by, and whenever the view was momentarily clear, I squeezed off a shot. While direct sun isn’t the most interesting light, candid scenes like this don’t stick around, so you shoot it anyway. I don’t think the men were aware of being photographed, and after a few more shots, I moved on. Twenty-some years later, though, I still wonder whether they were all friends—or complete strangers—sharing a bench.