Sumimasen, shashin ii desu ka?

That’s the phrase I use when I want to approach someone on the street here and take a photo of them.

• Sumimasen (すみません): Excuse me / Sorry
• Shashin (写真): Photo / picture
• Ii desu ka? (いいですか？): Is it okay? / Would that be all right?

Japanese people value their privacy, and not asking first would feel like far too much of an intrusion into a stranger’s private life. At least, that’s how I feel.

Wherever I shoot in the world, I always try to ask first. If I already have my camera out, sometimes the “agreement” is reached through eye contact and a synced smile.

Just as in most countries, people appreciate it when you try to say something polite in the local tongue.

If I stick to places in Osaka where Westerners are out in force, like Namba, Dōtonbori or Umeda, I can usually take a few shots of touts and hustlers without much trouble.

But since I started asking the question above in my halting Japanese, in situations where I stand out, it’s gone surprisingly well. It’s as if my effort with the language entitles me to some kind of reward: a photo!