新型コロナウィルスの影響下、世界の多くの都市はロックダウンされた。それらの都市では法律により外出が規制され違反者に罰則が与えられた。
対して東京では緊急事態宣言が発令されたが、法的拘束力はなくあくまでも自主規制だ。都は経済活動にも自粛要請を行い、やはり法的拘束力はないが様々な店舗が店を閉め、リモートワークに切り替える企業も多かった。その結果は現れ、約2ヶ月後緊急事態宣言が解かれたが、明らかに世界的にも特異な国民性が注目された。
撮影時、幾つかの場所には額縁を置いた。
それは、世界中のステイホームをしている人々に向けた、東京の今を伝えるための、そしてこの時代を共に見つめるための窓＝装置である。
額縁の先には、マスクと消毒を徹底する国民性の象徴として、防護服を着た人物を交通機関の前に配置した。人影まばらな街に突如増殖した「Uber Eats」の配達員もまた、もう一つの象徴として配置した。
個人的にショックだったのは、緊急事態宣言の発令前、東京に住む私が隣接する千葉の実家に帰省しようと母に連絡した際に、感染者数の多い東京から「品川ナンバー」の車が来たら近所の人の目が怖いから来るなと言われたことだ。いつも息子が来るとあんなに喜んでいた母の言葉とは思えなかった。
巷では自粛警察なる輩が生まれ、営業している店舗への批判的な電話や、SNSでの攻撃といった匿名で正義を振りかざす行為など、相互監視社会の窮屈さが目に付いた。
私が撮影した、緊急事態宣言下の人影まばらな東京。
その光景は経済的なリスクを伴いながら、自らを律し、協調する、良くも悪くも従順な日本人の国民性を表現しているようだった。
緊急事態宣言の解除後、街へ出た。
どんなに早朝だとしても、最早あの光景は再現できないとわかった。
宇佐美雅浩
※写真の序列は、時間でなく場所を意識した。
※（2020年7月20日 補記）
当初は緊急事態宣言期間中に限定し、軽い気持ちではじめたプロジェクトだった。しかし、今もなお新型コロナウイルスのパンデミックは収まらず終息の兆しが見えない。東京は再び緊急事態宣言が必要か？という事態にまで陥っている。先が読めないこの世界の状況をもう少しカメラを通して見続けてみたいと思う。写真は時々更新を行い、インスタグラムでもコメント付きでアップしていく予定である。
Due to the effects of COVID-19, many cities around the world were placed in lockdown. And there were cities that prohibited people from going outside and imposed penalties to violators.
Tokyo in comparison had declared a state of emergency, but did not have the legal power to enforce anything, and therefore only requested that everyone self-isolate.
In Tokyo prefecture, the self-isolation was requested towards economic activities as well, and again, even though they had no legal power to enforce it, various stores still closed their doors, and many businesses switched to telecommuting.
As a result, the state of emergency was lifted after two month or so later, while the world took notice of our peculiar national traits.
At the time of the photography, I decided to place picture frames at several locations. These frames serve as a window; a device that aims towards the people around the world currently in lockdown to bring awareness of Tokyo in its current state, and to see through this age together. Beyond the frames, I placed a person wearing a full protective clothes in front of a transit, as a representation of our national trait, which is thorough with masks and disinfection. In the city where people were sparsely present, I arranged “Uber Eats” deliveryman, who abruptly increased over this time period, as an another symbol.
Before the state of emergency was declared, when I told my mother that I was planning to leave Tokyo to stay with her in Chiba, she told me not to come home, because she was afraid of the neighbors’ eyes if they saw my car arrive with Shinagawa number plate (Tokyo has had a large number of infected people).
To think that they were the words of my mother, who was always so happy when her son came to visit, was personally a total shock to me.
A ‘self-restraint police force’ was formed in public, where the tightness of mutual surveillance society became apparent, as phone calls criticizing stores for working overtime, and anonymous attacks on social networking sites in the name of justice were carried out.
The photos I took of Tokyo during the state of emergency that is devoid of people. The scene seemed to express the national character of the Japanese, which is that of having control of oneself, being cooperative, and being remarkably obedient for better or worse, even at the risk of economic loss.
After the state of emergency was lifted, I went out to the city.
No matter how early in the morning, I realized I would never ever be able to recreate such a scenery ever again.
– USAMI Masahiro
# Please note: These photographs are arranged by place, not by date.
# ( P.S. July 20, 2020) Initially, I intended to photograph for this project for only a limited time after the government declared a state of emergency. The lockdown has since been lifted in Japan, but the coronavirus pandemic is not close to being over – in fact we don’t see any sign of it ending soon.Now Tokyo might need to declare another state of emergency.
Through my camera, I hope to continue examining our unpredictable world. The collection will be updated occasionally, and posted with captions on Instagram.