Fukuoka's Yatai: Capturing the Dedication of Japan's Dwindling Street Vendors

I traveled to Fukuoka, Japan to capture snippets of everyday life through the lens of a foreigner. The purpose of my trip was to experience Yatai - the Japanese food stalls that once populated streets across Japan. These are portable restaurants that are wheeled into high foot-traffic side streets at night, and serve alcohol and food such as ramen, gyoza, and yakitori. The Yatai create a sense of newfound community–if only for an hour–as strangers huddle around the small stall, eat and drink their fill, and talk amongst themselves and the chef. 

The Yatai have slowly disappeared across Japan, and a majority of those remaining are found in Fukuoka. Government regulations only allow Yatai to be passed down one generation, meaning this unique piece of Fukuoka’s culture will one day be lost to history. I wish to capture this fleeting moment in my paintings, showing a gathering of strangers whose paths may never cross again, enjoying a meal they know may not exist tomorrow.