A large portion of our daily commute is already recorded by CCTV here in Japan. Every time we get on a train, or take the subway, walk near an ATM or even into a こんびに, but I agree that there should be some limits to this. Putting this amount of pre-stalking power into the hands of the general public is not quite as useful as Google and other companies try to say. That said ... maybe this "street view" stuff is just a precursor for Google CCTV. With Google CCTV we'll be able to monitor everyone's actions and report suspicious activity to the Big G. Then, since they'll initially be working with the police, whenever a viewer spots someone that might resemble a wanted felon, they can report it to the authorities immediately. 1984, here we come! Well ... that's it for my conspiracy theories. Back to my book by this guy called Machiavelli :???:

The things companies will do in the name of "entertainment" ... it should be illegal to do something like this. If TV producers are looking for a new program idea, maybe they should ask themselves the following question: "Would I let my children take part in this?" If the answer is a solid "No", then the idea should be scrapped for sheer stupidity. I hope that Nasubi hasn't developed an accute form of agoraphobia ...

I didn't think that this would be your cup of tea McApline? :shock:

London is a sad example of big brother come to life. I have an offer to visit London but I am not so sure I will accept due to all the CCTV coverage. Although, I am going to China soon which is just as bad as the UK. The difference being that as long as I do not express my opinion about the government the cops in China will leave me alone for the most part. In the UK the cops will not only watch me but also harass me just because they can. In America the cops mess with everyone so an effort to keep Tokyo free from CCTV must be made.

Ah I hadn't thought of that! I rarely change the titles of what I soc feeling that somehow I am being more honest and not claiming it as my own LOL! I will make sure I change titles from now on!

Title changed. :)

Haha. I know it's a been done, but I did do my own little photoshoot. Not just one picture of a vending machine!

Hey Danielle! Thanks for posting this. I wasn't going ot because it was part of the Xmas matsuri, buy hey, as long as people don't mind. One thing: Could you change the title to something else please? It's just for SEO issues so that this post doesn't compete with my own. Try changing it to: Japanese Dating at Christmas or something else. Thanks! ^^

In the the UK, councils are using just this sort of data to clobber people for extra council tax; added a large conservatory? That makes the house bigger. More tax please. Of course there are people who say: "Well, nothing to hide, nothing to fear". They will be the first to complain when some piece of Google imagery infringes them. There is something interesting about the images though, like when my buddy back in the UK wanted to have a 'walk around my neighbourhood'. But I think this sort of imagery and saturation coverage raises more questions that needs or perceived needs [on the part of the people saying they are 'delivering innovative services that are merely satisfying consumer demand'] than it fulfils. A lot of this stuff is not satisfying consumer demand. It is a populised item rather than a popular item. All CCTV, in my experience, has the potential to end up as entertainment material, on these various Candid Camera type tv shows.

I hate to be watched by government or other wise.

You could actually see right down into my balcony in Sydney - you could see the barbeque and, had I been on that balcony at the moment it went over, you could have seen me! I, too am unnerved and not entirely sure of what use it could be that is not nefarious.

Tokyo is covered in pin-sharp clarity. My locale in Minami-oi, down here near Omori in Shinagawa-ku, has street-view shots for every three metres of road. Most of them are empty of people. But not all. Slightly un-nerving.

Ha, bonehead...

Good. Maybe I can post a sample pair on my blog

I love seeing this and some of you have some awesome views! Neil that view of Fuji is beautiful and the landscape pics... anyone want to do an apartment swap ; )

Lol - you're not blushing are you?

Mr. West always a joker.

Billy West is a bonehead! I mean,... Oh crap! I forgot to log in under my alternate user name

Some of the actions may be fraudulent, but if there was no explicit claim on the label that the people in the image were the actual farmers, it's not illegal. It's advertising. They are models.

I think that the images offer a view into living in Japan that isn't often presented on the web. If was fun to put together and I really can't thank all those that participated enough. Tremor & Kwech, maybe you can host something similar when you arrive in Japan?

Panties..vending...machines. Again. And you can find socks for sale in convenience stores and at newsstands at train stations.

Self + Wife + Daughter = 44,000 yen. Cha-ching! It's even easier than getting an insurance payout from being rear-ended at a stop light, and with less pain!

I know what you mean. Compared to NY it's like slow motion here sometimes

Playstation is for girls. Get an xbox 360!

Great article! Each view was interesting in its own way. I can participate next time too - I've only got about two months left until I move!