A Sea of Humanity

A look at the pedestrian scramble in the Shibuya District of Tokyo, Japan.

1 minute read

May 23, 2011, 10:00 AM PDT

By Jason Van Patten


At rush hour, the scrambled crosswalk which intersects ten lanes of traffic, can see upwards of 2,500 pedestrians moving at one time.

"the Scramble captures the contradiction of modern Japan: Although so many young people seek to stand out in the crowd with the latest, zaniest fashion, their upbringing still demands civility: They may look counterculture, but they're still bound to step back and offer a stranger the right of way."

"Shibuya's Scramble has become a symbol of the habitability of a metropolis of 35 million. In recent years, the crossing has become a mainstay in tourist guidebooks."

Monday, May 23, 2011 in Los Angeles Times

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